Book Description

The material for this book has been taken from the 2006 thesis, Frederick Kiesler’s Art of This Century in New York, (1942-1947), in the Context of the Twentieth Century Art Museum. The prime objective was to establish why so few people remember Art of This Century, which Kiesler designed for Peggy Guggenheim in 1942, and she ruthlessly closed in 1947. A second aim was to investigate why there has been so research carried out on the Gallery, when it was acknowledged as a work of art in its own right at the time of opening. Indeed, in 2004 Thomas Krens, the Guggenheim Foundation’s director expressed concern that due to the lack of research it might slip into oblivion. Such a statement raises questions as to why it has taken the Guggenheim Foundation over half a century to resurrect Art of This Century, in the form of two exhibitions held in Frankfurt and Venice, or instigate its own research. The book opens with an historical account of the development of the modern art museum, as well as an overview of Kiesler’s life and multidisciplinary oeuvre. His association with selected, contemporary architectural theorists, and architects is looked at to establish whether they had any influence on his eclectic thinking. This is followed by a summary of Kiesler’s manifesto, On Correalism and Biotechnique: A Definition of a New Approach to Building Design, 1937-1939. The main body of the work is a detailed description of Art of This Century. The notion that Kiesler’s innovative theories and designs might be better understood in a twenty-first century architectural context is finally explored. "This book finally restores Frederick Kiesler to his rightful place in the history of twentieth century art and architecture. By a careful analysis of his sometimes fraught collaboration with the mercurial Peggy Guggenheim, Haines-Cooke uncovers the fascinating story of Kiesler’s ground-breaking new vision for the display of abstract art – rendered all the more poignant by its significant yet largely subliminal influence on much of the best in recent museum and gallery architecture." —Dr Jonathan Hale, University of Nottingham