A Companion to Contemporary Art since 1945

The year 1945 represents a turning point in Western history following a shift of cultural, political, and economic power from Europe to the USA after the war. It is also a significant date from which to survey developments in contemporary art due to the explosive growth of the visual arts since this time. Regarding contemporary art from a historical perspective does raise an inherent paradox, and this is a theme discussed by the editor in her introduction and running a course throughout this volume as it discusses the problematic nature of the relationship between contemporary art and its representation as...