Beautiful Madness – Art Writing as Art Curating

Curating exhibitions and "art writing” are closely related: both activities construct a meaningful narrative about artefacts and artists, both interact with a public, viewers/readers; both make space for the experience of art objects. For their work, curators and art writers tap the primary source: the living artist, their work and world. Both cherish a proximity to the maker, for it allows them to delve into artistic processes, consider things in a state of becoming. An essential tool for curators and art writers alike is the dialogue with the artist.

Mark Kremer has been writing, curating, teaching, and interacting with artists for decades. Beautiful Madness is an accumulation of his writings on contemporary art (1993–2023). The book gathers pieces along lines of affinity, themes, and attitudes, structured in five topics: Trace; Gesture; Rudiment; Polyphony; Fortitude. It mirrors his experiences with art curating, writing, thinking and is of value to anybody who wants to sharpen their pen, and rethink what curating might mean.

Mark Kremer (b. 1963, NL) is an independent curator and writer, based in Amsterdam. He studied art history, comparative literature, and film studies. Since 1987, he has been working in and with several art institutes, educational programs, and has curated numerous international exhibitions.

Featuring work by Absalon (Meir Eshel), Tiong Ang, Christiaan Bastiaans, Harmen Brethouwer, Hugo Canoilas, Lutz Driessen, Helmut Federle, Alicia Framis, Wineke Gartz, Rob Johannesma, Joan Jonas, Mike Kelley, Esther Kläs, Klaas Kloosterboer, Job Koelewijn, André Kruysen, Jos van Meerendonk, Almagul Menlibayeva, Aernout Mik, Pieter Laurens Mol, Astrid Nobel, Jan van de Pavert, Roee Rosen, Roland Schimmel, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Lorelinde Verhees, Jeff Wall, and many others.