Edited by Kathy Halbreich with Mark Godfrey, Lanka Tattersall, and Magnus Schaefer. With contributions by Paul Chan, Christophe Cherix, Tacita Dean, Barbara Engelbach, Mark Godfrey, Stefan Gronert, Kathy Halbreich, Rachel Jans, John Kelsey, Jutta Koether, Christine Mehring, Matthias Muhling, Marcelle Polednik, Christian Rattemeyer, Kathrin Rottmann, Magnus Schaefer, and Lanka Tattersall. Bibliography by Erhard Klein. Interview with Benjamin H. D. Buchloh

 

Sigmar Polke (1941–2010) is widely regarded as one of the most influential and experimental artists of the postwar generation. Working across such diverse mediums as painting, photography, film, drawing, and sculpture, he sought to contaminate reputedly pure artistic conventions. His works act like alibis, making it impossible to circumscribe the artist's methods and meanings—a strategy Polke also used to confront the evasions of responsibility so common in Nazi Germany.

 

Containing over 500 illustrations and published in conjunction with the first comprehensive Polke retrospective (organized by MoMA with the Tate Modern), this catalogue examines the full range of his exceptionally inventive oeuvre. Four essays trace its broad themes and twelve others focus on single works or motifs. 320 pp.; 520 illus.