Bookverdict.com

These three massive volumes present the hundreds of contemporary works that were on display last summer as part of either the Venice Biennale or the quinquennial Documenta exhibition in Kassel, Germany. Both shows purport to survey the entire international contemporary art scene, and both are regularly criticized for being too broad or too narrow, for favoring a certain movement or style, or for ignoring specific artists, countries, or continents. Nonetheless, these shows remain the best chance to freeze a moment in the cascade of images and try to draw some broad connections. The Venice show is traditionally organized by nationality, and the jury has only limited choice in determining who represents each nation (satiric painter Robert Colescott re...Log In or Sign Up to Read More