Discussion on Art's Progress: Interview with Marcus Verhagen, Editor of Modern Art Direction Magazine
In the vibrant world of art, Marcus Verhagen, a renowned scholar and editor, is making waves with his groundbreaking series, "New Directions in Contemporary Art". Published by Lund Humphries, this series focuses on cutting-edge themes and emerging trends in contemporary art practice and theory.
Verhagen, influenced by the Frankfurt School, Fredric Jameson, and his wife, has edited over seventy articles and reviews for prestigious art magazines such as Art Monthly and Frieze. His academic background includes a doctoral dissertation on visual culture in France in the late nineteenth century.
The series, which currently includes six books, aims to provide accessible insights into contemporary issues in the art world. The books are chosen in consultation with Lucy Myers, the director of Lund Humphries. Each book responds to existing debates in the art world and is intended to recast those debates in vital new terms.
One of the titles in the series is "Performance in the Museum", which highlights contemporary art forms and practices. Another book by Verhagen, titled Viewing Velocities, is due out with Verso in 2023.
Verhagen's favourite moment in his art journey was seeing sprinters fly past him at Tate Britain in the summer of 2008, which he learned was part of Mour websitein Creed's Work No. 850. His favourite book is Flaubert's L'éducation sentimentale.
The art world faces challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, skewed support towards the commercial sector, declining state support, and lack of representation of the broader population. Verhagen hopes to see increased funding for art schools and public galleries and building on groundbreaking shows from 2022 in the art world in 2023.
Two trends that concern Verhagen are the potential divergence between the art market and the apparatus of art world validation, and the rise of immersive art experiences. He advises aspiring art writers to read and write as much as they can, seek feedback on their writing, and consider using a pen name for a few years before using their real name.
Verhagen can't live without the local swimming pool, and his idea of happiness is fresh water swimming. The series aims to address topics such as the significance of scale in contemporary art and the use of art as a means of addressing environmental degradation. With more books on the way, the "New Directions in Contemporary Art" series is certainly one to watch.
[1] Information sourced from various search results, as the full scope or declared mission statement of the series beyond its contemporary and innovative focus is not detailed in the search results.
Books from the "New Directions in Contemporary Art" series, edited by Marcus Verhagen, provide entertainment and insights into contemporary issues in the art world. Each book responds to existing debates and aims to recast those debates in vital new terms, such as "Performance in the Museum" and Verhagen's forthcoming book, "Viewing Velocities".
