What is 'garbage'? 'Trash'? 'Rubbish'? More than a hundred years after Marcel Duchamp changed the course of Western art by re-focusing our view of 'found objects', artists today continue to explore 'refuse' and its many uses and meanings in contemporary art.
This fascinating, fully illustrated book explores several recognisable trends among artists who consistently 're-purpose' garbage or detritus to create works that examine identity, index and environment. Each theme is a potent reminder of our close connection to the materials we use to create and facilitate our lives. In the deft hands of these artists, those connections are far from severed when these materials are discarded. Featuring interviews with artists Nick Cave, Aurora Robson, Mac Premo, Jill Sigman, Alyce Santoro and others, this cleverly designed volume highlights both recognisable and unpublished works of art from established and emerging artists in the field.
