Michael Landy: Break Down

by Julian Stallabrass, Michael Landy

From the "Through the 1990s, Landy's work has explored different aspects of contemporary consumerism. Over three years in the making, BREAK DOWN is [his] most ambitious - and most extreme - project to date. Michael Landy has made an inventory of his life -- of every single thing he owns. Every piece of furniture, every record, every article of clothing, every book, every gadget, every work of art...over 5000 individual items have been catalogued in Landy's existential audit. And all of them are broken down to the basic materials they are made of. Nothing but powder is left. This artist's book--part manual, part inventory, part research file--includes the complete list of his possessions, drawings, photographs, a collage of research materials and an interview with Julian Stallabrass, as well as a section of photographs from the actual installation in Oxford Street in London, February 2001."

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Julian Stallabrass is an English art historian, photographer and curator. He was educated at Leighton Park School and New College, Oxford University where he studied PPE. A Marxist, he has written extensively on contemporary art (including internet art), photography and the history of twentieth century British art.