Assembled from the wisdom of 36 legendary art teachers - all of them
artists or critics at the top of their field - Akademie X: Lessons in
Art + Life is an ideal curriculum for the aspiring artist.
Each of the book's "tutors" has provided a unique lesson that aims to
provoke, inspire and stimulate the aspiring artist. These lessons cover
some combination of the following: technical advice (e.g. don't make a
sculpture bigger than your studio door), assignments (some of which will
take five minutes to complete, others five years), tips for avoiding
creative ruts (including suggestions for mind-expanding materials to
read, watch or listen to), principles of careful looking (demonstrated
with images of artworks, photographs, films or even billboard
advertisements), advice on the daily practice of art (how to balance
time alone in the studio with building an artistic community), career
pointers (how to prepare for a studio visit from a curator or gallerist)
and personal anecdotes (e.g. stories from the instructor's own humble
beginnings). Taken together, these lessons offer the reader a set of
tools for thinking, seeing and living as an artist.
Not only is Akademie X: Lessons in Art + Life the first illustrated
text book of its kind for artists, but it will also appeal to anyone
interested in contemporary art, providing first hand revelations into
the philosophies and techniques of some of the world's best artists and
writers.
