Kyung An & Jessica Cerasi - Who's Afraid of Contemporary Art?

Who’s afraid of contemporary art? An A to Z Guide to the Art World is the very fitting title for the witty, educational book about the world of contemporary art, written by authors Kyung An (assistant curator at the Guggenheim Museum, New York) and Jessica Cerasi (exhibitions manager at Carroll / Fletcher gallery, London) and published by Thames & Hudson in 2017.

The authors attempt to condense the history of contemporary art and the inner workings of the art world in this fun, easy-to-read volume. The book is divided into 26 chapters, each answering a well-chosen question about contemporary art and its world, from A to Z, with each letter corresponding to a specific topic or idea. After briefly explaining the concept of the book, they give a concise and relevant example; whether it is a individual artist, a certain way contemporary art is created, or venues for contemporary art. I found the example in chapter 8 particularly relevant, because it explains the messages against misogyny and racism that can be found in the artworks of the Guerilla Girls.

The authors believe that art is contemporary when it "speaks to our globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world", and they chose the topics discussed in the book with this idea in mind. Other topics that are covered in this book include the role of curators, the exhibition schedule, the role of taste-makers, the Turner Prize, Art Basel, the function of galleries to showcase new artists, the socially conscious works of certain artists, and the efforts of performance artists to engage with their creations. Each chapter also has pictures of the artworks that are discussed, which makes understanding the explanations that the book provides far easier.

The art world can be confusing even for art lovers and this book does a great job of demystifying contemporary art, which can sometimes appear nonsensical. The book offers the reader an overview of the contemporary art world at large and manages to be funny but also educational. It is perfect as an introduction to this sometimes-baffling art form, especially for people who enjoy art but not necessarily contemporary art. I would thus definitely recommend this book to people interested in contemporary art, be they art connoisseurs or people with a passing interest in it, because it is an easy, entertaining read that leaves you wanting to expand your knowledge on art and its fascinating world.

[Kyung An, Jessica Cerasi, Who's Afraid of Contemporary Art? An A to Z Guide to the Art World, Thames and Hudson, New York and London, 2017, 144 pages]

Ana Apostu