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larsinio's review
4.0
$20k is a fun, sometimes rambling, collection of short stories around the idea of tring to make a new art event/collective/geographic work on a very expensive photograph of stone circles by Richard long purchased in the mid 90s.
The story collection plays a bit like madcap Bill Bryson – fun anecdotes across northern Britain – its grim up north – interspersed with meditations on what art is or isn’t, or should be or shouldn’t. Drummond continues to entertain throughout – the book never becomes dull although I wouldn’t necessarily thought I would have enjoyed the subject matter if I wasn’t already acquainted with Drummond’s myriad works. Having not known about Richard long beforehand didn’t diminish my enjoyment – ultimately Drummond doesn’t really know hwo he is either. I enjoyed his overflowing creativity on display (or is he being derivative?) .
I read the third edition of this book, which included several epilogues that continue the story of the Richard Long photograph., however still doesn’t complete the story. To get the best out of this, you probably would need to know a bit about the KLF, his anti-art art of the 90s, and who the hell Gimpo is.
Cant wait to rip into Drummond’s other books
The story collection plays a bit like madcap Bill Bryson – fun anecdotes across northern Britain – its grim up north – interspersed with meditations on what art is or isn’t, or should be or shouldn’t. Drummond continues to entertain throughout – the book never becomes dull although I wouldn’t necessarily thought I would have enjoyed the subject matter if I wasn’t already acquainted with Drummond’s myriad works. Having not known about Richard long beforehand didn’t diminish my enjoyment – ultimately Drummond doesn’t really know hwo he is either. I enjoyed his overflowing creativity on display (or is he being derivative?) .
I read the third edition of this book, which included several epilogues that continue the story of the Richard Long photograph., however still doesn’t complete the story. To get the best out of this, you probably would need to know a bit about the KLF, his anti-art art of the 90s, and who the hell Gimpo is.
Cant wait to rip into Drummond’s other books
d0kk's review
3.0
I'm a bit conflicted about this. I love Bill Drummond, have done for a long time. I connected with his work with the KLF, and his book "45" is terrific, though his books with Mark Manning are less successful, for me certainly because Manning seems to be writing horror porn, which just gets wearing really fast.
But this book here really brings out Drummond's technique of shopping-list documentary journalism (this happened then this happened then this happened) interspersed with bar stool philosophy and rants about art. Here more than ever Drummond exposes himself to being criticized as a failed art student groping for credibility as an artist, whilst at the same time passionately denying any such desire. Personally I think art school just messed with his head, and/or he's been acting out a mid-life crisis since his late teens.
An enjoyable though not necessarily a compelling read. Essential for Drummond fans regardless, assuming there are such things as Bill Drummond fans out there.
But this book here really brings out Drummond's technique of shopping-list documentary journalism (this happened then this happened then this happened) interspersed with bar stool philosophy and rants about art. Here more than ever Drummond exposes himself to being criticized as a failed art student groping for credibility as an artist, whilst at the same time passionately denying any such desire. Personally I think art school just messed with his head, and/or he's been acting out a mid-life crisis since his late teens.
An enjoyable though not necessarily a compelling read. Essential for Drummond fans regardless, assuming there are such things as Bill Drummond fans out there.
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