Doug Aiken-The Idea of the West

“Sunsets over the Pacific…Surfers…Movie Stars…Coyotes in the
street…Sex.” Doug Aitken’s The Idea of the West presents the collective response of
1000 people on the street who were asked “What is your idea of the West?” to create
a manifesto from the quotes and comments of random individuals. Through an
amazing assortment of over 200 color and black-and-white images juxtaposed with
responses to this question, The Idea of the West takes the reader on a high-speed
journey across space and time to trace the mythology of the New West.
In addition, the book, co-published by the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los
Angeles, also features conversational fragments by a host of creators based in the
Pacific region, including Devendra Banhart, Bruce Brown, Charles Burnett, Exene
Cervenka, Fallen Fruit, Simone Forti, Fritz Haeg, Miranda July, No Age, Raymond
Pettibon, Rodarte, and Ryan Trecartin.
A hybrid artist’s book that brings together elements from classic 1970s photobooks,
agit-prop paperbacks, and music ‘zines, The Idea of the West reflects Aitken’s
expansive approach to art-making. Known primarily for multi-screen video
installations that function as immersive explorations of the experience of time and
location, Aitken has also directed many live happenings, including his Broken Screen
happening in Los Angeles and 99 cent dreams happening and Sonic happening in
New York. In 2009, Aitken orchestrated a real-time opera that assembled auctioneers
performing against the rhythms of his Sonic Table, at Il Tempo del Postino, at Theatre
Basel and presented a performance during the opening of his multichannel video
installation frontier in Rome.

The publication Idea of the West is generously supported by Grazka Taylor.

Regular Price: 45.00

Member's Price 40.50