1. Research Library

      2. The Research Library is a continually expanding curated selection of exhibition catalogs, artist monographs, art theory, and cultural studies publications as well as works from theory, postcolonial studies, political history, geopolitics, and other fields. Together these materials seek to provide an overview of the key exhibitions, artists, theories, and discourses that made a significant contribution to charting the shifts in contemporary art and intellectual debates from 1989 till today. The physical Library is housed at BAK; an online version of it, complete with a short entry on each publication explaining why the book is relevant to FORMER WEST project research, can be accessed below. Please note that the selection of artist monographs and catalogs of solo exhibitions is not available online at this time. We are happy to receive suggestions for books to include in the Research Library. Please send an e-mail with the book title, publication data, and a short message to info@formerwest.org. If you would like to visit the physical library at BAK in Utrecht, please schedule an appointment (during visiting hours, Wednesday–Saturday 12.00–17.00 hrs, Sunday 13.00–17.00 hrs) by sending an e-mail to info@bak-utrecht.nl.
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      4. Categories:
        1. All
        2. Art History
        3. Art Theory
        4. Etc.
        5. Exhibitions (Group/Thematic)
        6. Globalization
        7. Post-Colonial Studies/Cultural Studies
        8. Political Science
        9. Political History/Geopolitics
        10. Theory
        Sort order:
        1. Title
        2. Year

        2010

        Curating and the Educational TurnPaul O’Neil and Mick Wilson Open Editions and de Appel2010AT
        Contemporary Art and the Cosmopolitan Imagination: Politics, Ethics, Affect Marsha MeskimmonRoutledge2010AT
        High Price: Art Between the Market and Celebrity Culture Isabelle GrawNew York/ Berlin: Sternberg Press2010AT
        How to Do Things with Art: The Meaning of Art’s Performativity Dorothea von HantelmannJRP|Ringier2010AT
        Perpetual InventoryRosalind KraussCambridge, Mass: MIT Press2010AT

        2009

        Art and Theory After SocialismMel Jordan and Malcom MilesUniversity of Chicago Press2009AT
        Art School (Propositions for the 21st Century)Steven Henry Mads Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press2009AT
        Art and Contemporary Critical Practice: Reinventing Institutional Critique Gerald Raunig and Gene Ray MayFly Press2009AT
        Being an Artist in Post-Fordist Times (Arts in Society)Pascal Gielen and Paul De BruyneNAi Publishers2009AT
        Column 4: Spaces of Art, Institutional and post-institutional practices in contemporary artReuben KeehanArtspace2009AT
        Escape the Overcode: Activist Art in the Control Society Brian HolmesVan Abbemuseum2009AT
        The Murmuring of the Artistic Multitude: Global Art, Memory and Post-fordism Pascal GielenAmsterdam: Valiz2009AT
        On Criticism (Thinking in Action)Noel CarrolRoutledge2009AT
        On (Surplus) Value in ArtDiedrich DiederichsenWitte de With and Sternberg Press2009AT
        The Return of Religion and Other Myths: A Critical Reader in Contemporary Art Maria Hlavajova, Sven Lütticken, and Jill Winder BAK, basis voor actuele kunst and post editions2009AT
        Re-enchantment (Art Seminar)James Elkins and Michael Newman Routledge2009AT
        The RadicantNicolas BourriaudBerlin/New York: Lukas & Sternberg2009AT
        Wait to Wait: A Conversation Boris Groys and Andro WekuaJRP|Ringier2009AT

        2008

        Art PowerBoris GroysMIT Press2008AT
        MJ Manifesta Journal Vol 2: Journal of Contemporary Curatorship No. 4-5-6Viktor Misiano and Igor ZabelSilvana Editoriale2008AT
        MJ Manifesta Journal Vol 1: Journal of Contemporary Curatorship No. 1-2-3 Viktor Misiano and Igor ZabelSilvana Editoriale2008AT
        On Knowledge Production: A Critical Reader in Contemporary Art Maria Hlavajova, Jill Winder, and Binna ChoiBAK, basis voor actuele kunst and Revolver2008AT
        The State of Art Criticism (Art Seminar)James Elkins and Michael Newman Routledge2008AT
        Thinking Worlds: The Moscow Conference on Philosophy, Politics, and ArtJoseph Backstein, Daniel Birnbaum, Sven-Olov Wallenstein New York/ Berlin: Sternberg Press2008AT
        Time Action Vision: Conversations in Cultural Studies, Theory, and Activism Christian HöllerJRP|Ringier2008AT
        Under Pressure: Pictures, Subjects, and the New Spirit of Capitalism Daniel Birnbaum and Isabelle GrawNew York/ Berlin: Sternberg Press2008AT
        The Wal-Mart Phenomenon: Resisting Neo-Liberal Power through Art, Design and Theory Benda HofmeyrJan van Eyck Academie2008AT

        2007

        Art and Revolution: Transversal Activism in the Long Twentieth Century (Semiotext(e) Active Agents) Gerald Raunig and Aileen DeriegSemiotext(e)2007AT
        Citizens and Subjects: The Netherlands, for example. A Critical Reader Rosi Braidotti, Charles Esche, and Maria Hlavajova BAK, basis voor actuele kunst and JRP|Ringier2007AT
        The Exiles of Marcel DuchampTJ DemosCambridge, Mass: MIT Press2007AT
        Postproduction. Culture as Screenplay: How Art Reprograms the World Nicholas BourriaudBerlin/New York: Lukas & Sternberg2007AT
        Right about Now: Art and Theory since the 1990s Margriet Schavemakers & Mischa Rakier Amsterdam: Valiz2007AT
        Taking the Matter into Common Hands: Contemporary Art and Collaborative Practices Johanna Billing, Maria Lind, and Lars NilssonLondon: Black Dog Publishing2007AT

        2006

        Art and Its Institutions: Current Conflicts, Critique and CollaborationsNina MöntmannLondon: Black Dog Publishing2006AT
        Art History Versus AestheticsJames Elkins and Michael NewmanRoutledge2006AT

        2005

        Experience, Memory, ReenactmentAnke Bangma, Steve Rushton, and Florian WüstRevolver and Piet Zwart Institute2005AT
        Modest Proposals [TR/EN]Charles EscheBaglan Press2005AT

        2003

        Design and Crime (and Other Diatribes)Hal FosterVerso2003AT

        2002

        The Anti-Aesthetic: Essays on Postmodern Culture Hal Foster New Press2002AT
        The Language of New MediaLev ManovichCambridge, Mass: MIT Press2002AT

        2001

        The Return of the Real: Avant-Garde at the End of the Century Hal FosterCambridge, Mass: MIT Press2001AT

        2000

        Terra Infirma: Geography’s Visual Culture Irit RogoffRoutledge2000AT

        1999

        The Originality of the Avant-Garde and Other Modernist MythsRosalind KraussCambridge, Mass: MIT Press1999AT
        Visual Display: Culture Beyond Appearances (Discussions in Contemporary Culture, No 10)Lynne Cooke and Peter WollenNew Press1999ATAH

        1998

        Vision and Visuality: Discussions in Contemporary Culture Hal Foster New Press1998AT

        1996

        Evictions: Art and Spatial Politics Rosalyn DeutschMIT Press1996AT

        1994

        The Optical UnconsciousRosalind KraussCambridge, Mass: MIT Press1994AT

        1992

        Art after Modernism: Rethinking Representation (Art Criticism and Theory) Brian Wallis New Museum of Contemporary Art and David R Godine1992AT

        1991

        Geopolitics and Geoculture: Essays on the Changing World-System (Studies in Modern Capitalism)Immanuel Maurice WallersteinCambridge University Press1991ATGLO

        1986

        The End of Art Theory: Criticism and Post Modernity Victor BurginPalgrave Macmillan1986AT

        1984

        Theory of the Avant-Garde (Theory and History of Literature Vol. 4)Peter BürgerUniversity of Minnesota Press1984AT