Heinz Mack

Light Space Colour Heinz Mack English And German edition

In honor of the 80th birthday of minimalist master Heinz Mack, this indispensible exhibition catalog documents the artist's most comprehensive retrospective ever. Mack is a co-founder of Germany's seminal ZERO Movement, one of minimalism's cutting-edge groups, which began in the 1960s. Mack's sculptural works, paintings and magical light art, found in major collections worldwide such as MoMA NY, have had a profound influence on contemporary art for half a century.

Mack's work is grouped into chapters by type, including Installations, Wings, Rotors, Light Objects, Cubes/Prisms, Sculpture and Painting. An unusual feature adds 24 selected writings on Mack by critics, art historians and other artists. Going back more than 50 years, these fascinating texts are paired with photos of the works they discuss, showing how the works were received at the time they were made. The overall impression reinforces Mack's tremendous importance to the art world throughout his career.

A conversation between Mack and Hans-Ulrich Obrist and Daniel Birnbaum creates a bridge of understanding between today's observers and this wise elder, who is still a vital producer and observer of art. ''Light has an existential significance for me - whereby I naturally think about shadow as well in a strictly dualistic and dialectical way,'' Mack says. ''To paraphrase Leonardo: light is waning darkness and darkness is waning light.'' The book includes a complete biography, list of solo and group exhibitions, and bibliography.