Karen Grimson, Leandro Chiappa John Baldessari. The End of the Line

Catalogue of the exhibition  John Baldessari: The End of the Line , presented at Malba between July 17 and November 18, 2024.

A pioneering figure in American conceptual art and author of paradigmatic works of this movement, John Baldessari is also recognized as a decisive influence on the formation of several generations of artists through his renowned Post-Study course, which he taught at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) for more than two decades. This publication brings together the works presented in the first comprehensive exhibition dedicated to him in South America: paintings, photographs, and installations from the Craig Robins Collection.

In addition to reproductions of his works, the book offers an overview of Baldessari's career through a series of texts specially commissioned for the project and curated by Karen Grimson. Editor of the volume and curator of the Robins Collection, Grimson's essay traces the main milestones in the artist's career. For her part, Argentine artist Analía Saban, a disciple of Baldessari, contributes a testimonial text about her relationship with her mentor, and renowned artists David Lamelas and Dorit Cypis reminisce in a conversation about their years in the Californian art scene. The volume is rounded out with a biographical chronology by Nathalie Chybik and a select bibliography.  Special mention should be made of the artwork created for the dust jacket by Alejandro Cesarco.

“It was precisely thanks to its portability that Baldessari’s early work reached Argentina, one of the southernmost countries on Earth (and another end of the line, in its own way). These works embody Baldessari’s attempt to open artistic practice to the world and to incorporate the world’s vicissitudes into his art; his greatest effort to bridge the gap between art and life.” Fifty years later, Baldessari's work returns to Argentina, expanded in a monographic presentation, offering a comprehensive perspective on the exceptional career of an artist who broke down borders, challenged the status quo, and along the way, reinvented the line. — Karen Grimson

Authors:
Eduardo F. Costantini,
Craig Robbins,
Karen Grimson,
David Lamelas,
Dorit Cypis
,Analía Sabán,
Natalie Chybik

Technical Specifications
: Publisher: Malba;
Year: 2024;
Type: Exhibition Catalog;
Binding: Paperback;
Dimensions: 24 x 17 cm
; Weight: 455 g
; Language: Bilingual - Spanish / English;
Pages: 176
; ISBN: 978-631-90127-8-1