Jean-Christophe Ammann's 'En y regardant mieux' reviewed
Richard Leydier reviews Jean-Christophe Ammann's book 'En y regardant mieux', a collection of texts that explores art through a countercyclical lens. Ammann, former director of the Museum für Moderne Kunst (MMK) in Frankfurt from 1989 to 2001, argues that in the 1970s novelty shifted from collective advancement to individual force. He draws analogies from quantum physics, biochemistry, and economics, referencing Kondratieff cycles. The book includes chapters on art and public, museums and collectors, and monographs on artists like Andy Warhol, Jeff Wall, Pipilotti Rist, and Marlene Dumas. Ammann's exhibition 'À rebours' at the Centre Culturel Suisse in Paris featured traditional media. The review praises Ammann's humanistic approach and his 'Vademecum for Curators'.
Key facts
- Jean-Christophe Ammann's book 'En y regardant mieux' is published by Les Presses du réel.
- Ammann directed the Museum für Moderne Kunst (MMK) in Frankfurt from 1989 to 2001.
- The book argues that in the 1970s, novelty became about individual force rather than collective advancement.
- Ammann uses analogies from quantum physics, biochemistry, and economics, including Kondratieff cycles.
- The book includes chapters on art and public, museums, collectors, and monographs on various artists.
- Ammann's exhibition 'À rebours' at the Centre Culturel Suisse in Paris featured aquarelles, paintings, engravings, and ceramics.
- Artists discussed include Andy Warhol, Jeff Wall, Pipilotti Rist, Marlene Dumas, and Lars von Trier.
- The review highlights Ammann's 'Vademecum for Curators' with 20 points.
Entities
Artists
- Jean-Christophe Ammann
- Daniel Arasse
- Martin Eder
- Elly Strik
- Christoph Wachter
- Caro Suerkemper
- Andy Warhol
- Anton Henning
- Jeff Wall
- Dana Wyse
- Pipilotti Rist
- Andreas Slominski
- Marlene Dumas
- Lars von Trier
- Joseph Beuys
- Claes Oldenburg
- Nobuyoshi Araki
- Eric Fischl
- Stephan Balkenhol
- Richard Leydier
Institutions
- Les Presses du réel
- Museum für Moderne Kunst (MMK)
- Centre Culturel Suisse de Paris
- artpress
Locations
- Frankfurt
- Germany
- Paris
- France
Sources
- artpress —