Stiff (Hardcover, illustrated edition)

Artist Hans van Houwelingen is known for his versatile and critical look at art in public space, public life and cultural politics. In this monograph - an unusually beautiful and comprehensive look at the art of making public works - van Houwelingen's writings are interwoven into the discussions of three important Dutch critic curators, each of whom focuses on a selection of particular works in relationship to their topic. Bram Kempers addresses the social and cultural backgrounds of Dutch public art; Stefan Schmidt-Wulffen offers a comparison of international positions on art in public space over the last few decades; and Sjoukje van der Meulen contributes an in-depth analysis of the art-theoretical implications of van Houwelingen's work. The artist himself responds to the theoreticians in his typically clear-headed and imaginative way.