Kirjahaku

The Art of the Devil is a beautiful book showcasing the past and present portrayal and manifestations of the Evil One in Western and Eastern art and a richly illustrated account of the history, symbols and manifestations of the devil in the collective imagination of the past and the present. The book features artistic masterpieces, engravings, ancient documents, books, posters, postcards, tarots, album covers, comics, objects and plenty of oddities related to the world of demons, the occult, and evil. See the devil in art from artists ranging from Hieronymus Bosch and Giotto to Keith Haring and Matt Groening.

The first monograph conceived for the international market devoted to one of the most important Chinese contemporary artists. Wang Guangyi is considered one of the emblems of new China, because his work underlines, through new expressive language forms, the deep social changes the country is experiencing. This monograph reveals for the first time the entire oeuvre of the artist, whose works are classified in China under the genre of Political Pop, and are kept in the collections of the most important museums and foundations in the world. Born in Heilongjiang Province in 1956, Wang Guangyi became one of the great stars of contemporary Chinese art through his Great Criticism series. Through the juxtaposition of two definitely opposing ideologies, each represented through iconic symbols, Guangyi criticises Communism and consumerism while negating both by combining them skilfully. Stylistically merging the government-enforced aesthetic of Agitprop with the kitsch sensibility of American Pop, Guangyi’s work adopts the cold-war language of the 1960s to ironically examine the contemporary issues of globalisation. Through their critique, Guangyi’s paintings weave intricate narratives, implying the role of the artist as an active participant (both as subjugator and subservient) in economic and social policies. Guangyi treads a very delicate line between moral dictum and capitalist endorsement; the interpretation of his paintings alternates with the subjectivity of context. Amalgamating, confusing and blurring opposing ideological beliefs, Guangyi’s billboard-sized canvases readily sell out national valour, while simultaneously devaluing status symbol luxury for the proletariat cause.

This stunning volume comprehensively tackles Nyoman Masriadi s artistic universe, which is considered to be among those that have most strongly impacted the definition of the new art of Southeast Asia. He is Southeast Asia s most well-received contemporary artist at auctions, and the first living Southeast Asian artist whose work has topped $1 million at auction. Masriadi s paintings frequently depict superhuman figures whose narratives, while rooted in Indonesian cultural history, offer witty and often biting social commentary on contemporary life and global pop culture. Through his expert control of light, shadow, and volume, Masriadi endows the monumental characters of his works with a sculptural, almost three-dimensional presence. Sometimes these characters appear in the archetypal roles of comic-book heroes, cowboys, soldiers, and athletes; but just as frequently, they are simply powerfully built people engaged in solitary acts of strength or captured in private moments of vulnerability.

This illustrated volume highlights the rich personality of the Armenian painter Rafael Megall (born 1983), his connection with the artistic tradition of his country, and the peculiar language inspired by the story of his people. The book offers a panorama of his production, among others: the famous icons, paintings on wood first showcased at the 57th Venice Biennale; the installation The Artist and His Mother, showcased at the National Gallery of Armenia, one of the most powerful artworks dedicated to the Armenian genocide; the unpublished series of portraits dedicated to Lev Tolstoy.