Seeing Is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees

Expanded Edition

Lawrence Weschler

Recommended By

Book Synopsis

"Seeing Is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees" by Lawrence Weschler is a captivating exploration of the life and work of the renowned American artist Robert Irwin. Weschler delves into the mind of Irwin, recounting his humble beginnings as an abstract painter and his subsequent transformation into one of the leading figures of the Light and Space movement.

Through a series of interviews and intimate conversations with Irwin, Weschler immerses the reader in the artist's profound philosophy and his relentless pursuit of creating art that transcends traditional boundaries. The book unravels Irwin's radical shift from the frame of the canvas to the surrounding environment, highlighting his groundbreaking installations that invite viewers to experience art on a sensory level.

Weschler skillfully interweaves anecdotes and firsthand observations, painting a vivid picture of Irwin's artistic evolution. He takes the reader behind the scenes, exploring Irwin's collaborations with architects, scientists, and fellow artists, shedding light on the intricate processes and inspirations that underlie his mesmerizing works.

As the narrative unfolds, Weschler delves into the cultural and intellectual context that shaped Irwin's artistic vision, elaborating on his encounters with influential figures like John Cage and James Turrell. Through these encounters, Weschler showcases how Irwin's unique approach to art was deeply rooted in his exploration of perception, space, and the interplay between the physical and the immaterial.

"Seeing Is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees" is a thought-provoking journey into the creative mind of Robert Irwin. Whether you are an art enthusiast or simply curious about the creative process, this book offers a profound insight into the transformative power of art and the boundless possibilities it holds. Weschler's eloquent prose and meticulous research make this book a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of contemporary art and the remarkable legacy of Robert Irwin.

Explore More Books

See All
The Agile Gene
How to Make Millions with Your Ideas
In the Heart of the Sea
The Hot Hand
The Anatomy of Buzz
A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis
The Infidel and the Professor
The Bullish Case for Bitcoin
How To Turn Down A Billion Dollars
Happy Money
Beating The Street
Sea Flight
More Than Enough
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
The Great CEO Within
Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero
Taken for Granted
Bend The Curve
Superforecasting
100 Plus
Billy Martin
A History of the English-Speaking Peoples
The Art of Seduction
The Neverending Story
The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide to Becoming a Whiskey Know-It-All
The Attention Merchants
12 Rules For Life
The Net & The Butterfly
Endure
The Story of Civilization: The Age of Louis XIV
The Psychology of Intelligence Analysis
Something Deeply Hidden
Opportunity Knocks
The Construction of Social Reality
Trillion Dollar Triage
The Botany of Desire
The Skeptical Environmentalist
Scale
The Little Book of Bull Moves
The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind
Einstein
Product Design for the Web
The Surrender Experiment
The Bet
Double your Profits
The Closing of the American Mind
Hidden Potential
Blue Ocean Strategy
Talent Is Overrated
Mohammed and Charlemagne
Makers
Posterity: Letters of Great Americans to Their Children
Home Work
The Fear Factor
Viral
Technofeudalism
Putin's Kleptocracy
The Alchemist
Art of the Living Dead
Natural Born Heroes
The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross
No Bull
Innovating Out of Crisis
Bargaining for Advantage
Paper Lion
Matthew Barney & Elizabeth Peyton
An Immense World
The True Believer
Modern Engineering for Design of Liquid Propellant Rocket Engines
Roger Ailes: Off Camera
Nobody Wants To Read Your Sh*t
The Healing Journey
The Science of Success
A Mathematician's Lament
Chasing the Light
Mapping the Mind
Gold In The Grass
A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things
Not Fade Away
The Tao of Charlie Munger
Margin of Safety
Stress Test
My Family and Other Animals
The Inner Lives of Markets
Confidence Game
Absolute Tao
Dream Big
Origin Story
Endurance
The Man Who Fed The World
You Can Be a Stock Market Genius
Freakonomics
The Story of Civilization: The Reformation
Every Life Is On Fire
Measure What Matters
Black Elk
Traction
The Hard Thing About Hard Things
The Weather Makers
Nietzsche: Beyond Good and Evil