'In recent decades, the body has moved from being the subject of traditional portraiture to become an active presence in live and participatory events. Art historical, socio-political and cultural developments, from radical feminism in the 1970s to contemporary scientific breakthroughs, have all had a profound influence on artists' attitudes to, and representations of, the human form.
The Body in Contemporary Art presents an international survey of art made since the early 1990s that has the body as its focus. Organized thematically, it examines such areas as nature and technology, the grotesque, identity politics and the place of the individual in society. From painting and sculpture to installation, video art and performance, Sally O'Reilly reveals the myriad ways in which the body has inspired a generation of artists.' — excerpt from the back cover

Further reading and index provided.