Erik Verhagen is an independent curator and art critic, serving as an Associate Professor of Contemporary Art History at the Université de Valenciennes. His work delves into the critical analysis of contemporary artistic movements and the thoughtful evaluation of artworks. Verhagen brings a wealth of knowledge and a fresh perspective to his teaching and critical endeavors, navigating the dynamic landscape of modern art. His expertise makes him a valuable voice for understanding the pivotal themes and directions within today's art world.
Exploring the extensive oeuvre of a highly prolific and versatile artist, this definitive monograph delves into three decades of innovative work. It highlights the artist's unique contributions and the impact of their diverse artistic expressions, showcasing a rich tapestry of creativity that has captivated audiences. The book serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding the evolution and significance of the artist's career, making it essential for both fans and scholars alike.
Contemplation and Communion with the World Ugo Rondinone (b. Brunnen, Switzerland, 1964; lives and works in New York) is a conceptual and installation artist whose oeuvre spans abstract painting, photography, and sculpture. Nature is where he has long found inspiration, regeneration, and comfort: "In nature, you enter a space where the sacred and the profane, the mystical and the secular vibrate against one another." Rondinone's works oscillate between the extremes of interiority and engagement with the wider world; stone is often present in his art as a recurrent material and symbol. The sculptures in the series nuns + monks originated as limestone models; the artist made three-dimensional scans and then cast the works in bronze. As a reflection of the inner self in the outside world, the friable mineral contrasts with the solidity of the bronze; the natural genesis of the millennia-old stones with the presence of the polychrome casts in the here and now. nuns + monks attest to a visibility while also giving the impression of flinching from the gazes to which they expose themselves.
