This generously illustrated volume provides a comprehensive survey of the career of a groundbreaking British performance artist. Rose English (b.1950) emerged in the 1970s with an interdisciplinary approach informed by performance, conceptual art, dance, feminism and installation - a pioneering combination at the time.

English has gone on to become one of the most influential performance artists working today. Combining elements of theatre, circus, opera and poetry, her work explores themes of gender politics, the identity of the performer and the metaphysics of presence. She has mounted performances in ice rinks, theatres and traditional art spaces such as London's Tate Britain, collaborating with horses, magicians and acrobats.

This monograph documents English's 40-year career to date, including legendary site-specific performances and large-scale spectaculars. Accompanying many rare archival photographs and performance scripts, a major essay by Guy Brett surveys the artist's work and times alongside interviews with two of English's closest collaborators, Sally Potter and Simon Vincenzi.

About the Author

Guy Brett (1942-2021) was a London-based art critic, curator and lecturer in art. In 1964, Brett co-founded Signals gallery, an influential and important space that gave a platform to experimental artists from Latin America and continental Europe. From 1964 to 1975 he was art critic of The Times, and from 1981 to 1983 he was visual arts editor of City Limits. During his career Brett wrote seminal monographic essays on artists such as Susan Hiller, Lygia Clark, Helio Oiticica, David Medalla, Rose English, Mona Hatoum, Takis and others.

Rose English (b.1950) is a British artist whose interdisciplinary practice includes performance, installation, dance, film and theatre.

Anne-Louise Rentell is an Australian performance artist who works as a director, producer, performer and dramaturge.

Book Information
ISBN 9781905464821
Author Guy Brett
Format Hardback
Page Count 432
Imprint Ridinghouse
Publisher Ridinghouse