Modern British Art

Leadership, they say, is about vision, courage, and influence. Lord Eldric Grumblethorne says it’s mostly about yelling into the garden until someone vaguely obeys. In this irreverent guide to noble failure, Britain’s most begrudging aristocrats reflect on their once-glorious command—now reduced to managing brunch plans, peasant complaints, and the thermostat. From disastrously delegated tasks to troops who march directly to HR, this book charts the slow collapse of authority in an age obsessed with "feedback." Through letters, speeches, damage reports, and heavily annotated ...

Very seldom in London can a major show of modern and contemporary art at a highly respected national institution have received such universally negative reviews. As I write this, not all the verdicts on the Royal Academy’s exhibition of Modern British Sculpture have been delivered. However, it is already clear that the majority will be hostile. Paradoxically, it is this, more than any other factor, which makes it seem like an important event - a turning point if you like.

This book will focus on the activity of two leading artists of their generations: Anthony Caro and Alison Wilding, both of international standing and influential figures for succeeding artists. The book also considers their relationship to their immediate contemporaries, and touches on the diverse forces at play in shaping the art and culture of our time.

An interview with leading British sculptor Sir Anthony Caro (1924-2016) recorded by Nicholas James at his Barford Street sculpture studio Camden Town in 1994, used as a basis for a feature in Art Monthly 1994. Also includes the essay "Caro to Wilding: Shifts in Modern British Sculpture", comparing the work of Caro with Alison Wilding.