The Idea of Art: Building a contemporary international art collection

(Paperback)

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Curator Anthony Bond began building a contemporary international art collection at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney in 1984. The collection now features many important artists, including Anselm Kiefer, Antony Gormley, Francis Bacon, Anish Kapoor and Doris Salcedo.

In The Idea of Art, Bond discusses the guiding philosophies that steered his formation of the gallery's collection. Incorporating conversations with many high-profile contemporary artists, the book offers important insights into how recent innovations connect with the art of the past, and with human experience.

'Anthony Bond's intimate knowledge of and friendship with artists and empathy with their processes gives his insight a particular richness and relevance.' Antony Gormley

Reviews

"Anthony Bond's intimate knowledge of and friendship with artists and empathy with their processes gives his insight a particular richness and relevance." --Antony Gormley, sculptor
"Collections are the lifeblood of art museums. Anthony Bond has left a great legacy to the Gallery in creating an important collection of international standing. This book allows his vital scholarship to be shared." --Michael Brand, art historian

Author Bio

Anthony Bond OAM is a freelance writer and curator. Until 2013 he was Director Curatorial at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney where, since 1984, he was responsible for the gallery's collection of international contemporary art. Among the many major exhibitions he has curated are Francis Bacon: Five decades (2012-13), Body (1997), Self portrait: Renaissance to contemporary (2005-06) and Anselm Kiefer: Aperiatur terra (2006-07). He was also curator of the inaugural Liverpool Biennial in 1999 and the 1992 Biennale of Sydney. His writing on art has been published widely in Australia and internationally.