On Perfection (Book)

An Artists' Symposium

Edited by Jo Longhurst Series edited by Alfredo Cramerotti

Framed from an artist’s perspective and spanning a diverse range of artworks that question how ideas of perfection shape our personal identities and our social and political systems, On Perfection considers the multifaceted nature of lens-based practices.

Edition

Based on a 2012 symposium on Perfection, held at the Whitechapel Gallery in East London, this book explores the ways in which artists engage with ideas of perfection, drawing on screenings, performances and discussions. The symposium featured the work of an eclectic group of artists and writers, who use photographic lenses of many kinds to create works that engage with or disrupt ideas of perfection. Framed from an artist’s perspective and spanning a diverse range of artworks that question how these ideas shape our personal identities and our social and political systems, On Perfection considers the multifaceted nature of lens-based practices.

Jo Longhurst is an artist and a former Leverhulme Fellow of the European Centre for Photographic Research at the University of South Wales, Newport.

INTRODUCTION – Jo Longhurst FOREWORD – Alfredo Cramerotti A NOTE FROM OUR SPONSOR – Robert Hiscox DESPOILING THE IDEAL – Eva Stenram ON PERFECTION & AFFIRMATION IN STREET PHOTOGRAPHY – Mark Durden LEADING PLATO INTO THE DARKROOM – Clive Cazeaux FAILURE & PERFECTION: FILM WORKS BY JULIAN ROSEFELDT –Julian Rosefeldt CLIVE CAZEAUX & JULIAN ROSEFELDT DISCUSSION – Chaired by Liam Devlin THE EFFORT OF PERFECTION: PERFORMING ADOLESCENCE – Catherine Grant OTHER SPACES: NEW WORKS WITH ELITE GYMNASTS – Jo Longhurst A PERFECT MYTH – Ray Müller, Director of The Wonderful Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl, In Conversation with Ceri Higgins ERNST JÜNGER & POST-HUMAN PERFECTION – David Evans SEEING THROUGH – Francette Pacteau BOUNDARY LINES – Leslie Dick, with Audrey Wollen PERFECTING DESIRE: RECONCILING MEMORY – Jonathan Whitehall A PERFECT STRIKE: DOUBLE STANDARDS & ATTACKS ON PERFECTION – Michal Heiman JONATHAN WHITEHALL & MICHAL HEIMAN DISCUSSION – Chaired by Liam Devlin THE PERFECT STUDENT – Oriana Fox ZIDANE: A 21ST CENTURY PORTRAIT, A FILM BY DOUGLAS GORDON & PHILIPPE PARRENO – Dan Hill EREWHON – Jane and Louise Wilson DECONSTRUCTING GENDER IDENTITY & NON-PERFECTION IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF YURIE NAGASHIMA – Marco Bohr LOUISE WILSON & MARCO BOHR DISCUSSION – Chaired by Mark Durden
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