Description

Book Synopsis

A criticism of the saturation of the 'curator' in art, business and everyday life



Trade Review

'Balzer writes with zest, scepticism and sly humour as he tracks the rise of the 'star curator' as marking the end of any possible avant-garde. Curationism is a memorable exploration that will change how you see so many daily activities. I loved this brilliant book.'

-- Sheila Heti, author of How Should a Person Be?

'Point[s] out how far we have come from the original avatars of the term: the curatores'

-- Hal Foster, London Review of Books

'A book you should read. Balzer traces the history and current hegemony of curationism—a practice of jumped-up interior decorators who double as priests explaining the gospel to the unlettered masses. A good read, if you don't mind reading things that you don't want to know'

-- Dave Hickey, art and culture critic

'An insightful, provocative and entertaining overview of many of the key issues in both art and cultural life today'

-- Art Review

'Curationism is increasingly persuasive as it nears the present. The best sections concern the rise of conceptual art from the 1950s onwards, the rise of international high finance, and the merging of the two'

-- Spectator

'A polemical account of what curators do and why not everyone is one'

-- Monocle Magazine

'A fast but deep account of the rise of the curator through the art world into popular culture'

-- The Globe and Mail

'Game-changing'

-- moMus

Best Art Books of the Year

-- Sky Goodden, National Post

'The kind of book I crave ... a beautiful, useful, and timely book'

-- Scrivener Creative Review

Table of Contents

Introduction
Prologue: Who is HUO?
Part I: Value
Part II: Work
Acknowledgements
About the Author

Curationism

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    £14.64

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    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Tue 9 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by David Balzer

    1 in stock


      View other formats and editions of Curationism by David Balzer

      Publisher: Pluto Press
      Publication Date: 10/04/2015
      ISBN13: 9780745335971, 978-0745335971
      ISBN10: 0745335977

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      A criticism of the saturation of the 'curator' in art, business and everyday life



      Trade Review

      'Balzer writes with zest, scepticism and sly humour as he tracks the rise of the 'star curator' as marking the end of any possible avant-garde. Curationism is a memorable exploration that will change how you see so many daily activities. I loved this brilliant book.'

      -- Sheila Heti, author of How Should a Person Be?

      'Point[s] out how far we have come from the original avatars of the term: the curatores'

      -- Hal Foster, London Review of Books

      'A book you should read. Balzer traces the history and current hegemony of curationism—a practice of jumped-up interior decorators who double as priests explaining the gospel to the unlettered masses. A good read, if you don't mind reading things that you don't want to know'

      -- Dave Hickey, art and culture critic

      'An insightful, provocative and entertaining overview of many of the key issues in both art and cultural life today'

      -- Art Review

      'Curationism is increasingly persuasive as it nears the present. The best sections concern the rise of conceptual art from the 1950s onwards, the rise of international high finance, and the merging of the two'

      -- Spectator

      'A polemical account of what curators do and why not everyone is one'

      -- Monocle Magazine

      'A fast but deep account of the rise of the curator through the art world into popular culture'

      -- The Globe and Mail

      'Game-changing'

      -- moMus

      Best Art Books of the Year

      -- Sky Goodden, National Post

      'The kind of book I crave ... a beautiful, useful, and timely book'

      -- Scrivener Creative Review

      Table of Contents

      Introduction
      Prologue: Who is HUO?
      Part I: Value
      Part II: Work
      Acknowledgements
      About the Author

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