Russian Samizdat Art: Essays

This is the first substantial update on samizdat artliterally meaning ""unpublished'' and figuratively meaning not sanctioned by the Soviet bureaucracysince the government bulldozed an outdoor exhibition of contemporary Russian art in Moscow in 1974. Most samizdat artists are producing bookworks, precious to the eye, yet easily hiddenand have been since the Futurist movement of the early 20th century. Illustrations demonstrate the high quality of the work being supressed. Russian art scholar Bowlt contributes a sturdy essay marred by a kind of ``artspeak'' native to modernist Russia. Also included is an essay by the Gerlovins, both of whom are book artists. (November)