Hurly-burly: Phyllida Barlow, Rachel Whiteread, Alison Wilding
This book was published on the occasion of Hurly-burly: Phyllida Barlow, Rachel Whiteread, Alison Wilding at Gagosian, rue de Ponthieu, Paris. The exhibition featured sculptures by British artists Phyllida Barlow (1944–2023), Rachel Whiteread, and Alison Wilding that together illuminated their diverse but interconnected approaches. Its title, which references Macbeth’s opening scene of the alliance between the three witches, also alludes to the mercurial character of the art world.
Barlow’s antimonumental structures, which make use of everyday materials such as cement, plywood, and polystyrene, are often painted in vibrant colors, with their means of construction visible. In her recent sculptures, Whiteread has moved toward the use of more open, natural forms, but maintains an acute sensitivity to the fine details of objects. Wilding combines a wide variety of techniques and forms to produce eclectic abstract sculptures centered on material contrast, concealment, and disparity.
The bilingual (English/French) publication includes color plates and details of the eighteen exhibited works as well as photographs of the installation. It also features “Trouble,” an illustrated essay by art historian and critic Briony Fer; “Hurly-burly: Battles Lost and Won,” a conversation between the artists and author and journalist Louisa Buck; and a selected solo exhibition history for each artist.
Publisher: Gagosian
Publication date: 2023
Contributors: Phyllida Barlow, Louisa Buck, Briony Fer, Rachel Whiteread, Alison Wilding
Designer: Peter Willberg
Printer: Printmanagement Plitt, Oberhausen, Germany
Format: Softcover in dust jacket
Dimensions: 9 3/4 × 12 1/2 inches (24.8 × 31.8 cm)
Pages: 114
Languages: English, French
ISBN: 978-1-951449-50-6
