Book Description

Brad Downey is a Berlin-based, Kentucky-born artist who has made radical and inspiring artworks all across the globe. This book presents the first full assessment of his works: sculptures, architecture, performances, installations, films, drawings, collages and activism, all inspired by the objects and activities of daily life. With humor, sensitivity, and insight, Downey examines the fabric of our cities and our forgotten margins and disputed borders. In doing so, he weaves new narratives into their chaotic patterns and makes vague the divisions between art and the everyday. Through an abundance of texts, photos, film-stills, drawings, sketches, collages, portraits and self-portraits, Downey becomes comprehensible as both a conceptual and a performative artist who is not the least bit concerned about the distinction between high- and lowbrow culture. In addition, the wealth of collaborative productions that is shown in this book and that distinguishes and informs, Downey's own artistic practice opens up a view of the broad and international network in which the artist operates across the globe. The book was conceived in close collaboration with the artist, edited by Lukas Feireiss and contains texts by Jimmie Durham, Hrag Vartanian, Alain Bieber, Rafael Schacter, Matthew Murphy, Angelique Spaninks, Jennifer atcher, Marc Wellmann, and Ed Zipco.