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If we are to see art as a mirror of society, the work of Paul McCarthy reflects all that is perverted, violent, and deranged in this world. Characterized by crawling around on hands and knees in specially built environments and dousing his body in ketchup and mayonnaise, his performances repulse, but he remains one of the most talked-about artists today. Published in conjunction with a retrospective exhibition at New York New Museum of Contemporary Art, this catalog documents over 30 years of McCarthy art, including performance, installation, video, and photographic work. One of the strengths of this publication is the critical analysis provided by three highly regarded scholars. In comparison, the 1996 monograph from Phaidon Press Contemporary Artist series of the same title offers performance scripts, interviews with the artist, and samples of his own writing. Both publications offer a plethora of color and black-and-white reproductions. Recommended for libraries with good contemporary art collections.
