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  • What Are You Looking At?

  • 150 Years of Modern Art in the Blink of an Eye
  • By: Will Gompertz
  • Narrated by: Roy McMillan
  • Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (230 ratings)

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What Are You Looking At? cover art

What Are You Looking At?

By: Will Gompertz
Narrated by: Roy McMillan
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Summary

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of What Are You Looking At? by Will Gompertz, read by Roy McMilllan. What is modern art? Why do we either love it or loathe it? And why is it worth so much damn money? Join Will Gompertz on a dazzling tour that will change the way you look at modern art forever. From Monet's water lilies to Van Gogh's sunflowers, from Warhol's soup cans to Hirst's pickled shark, hear the stories behind the masterpieces, meet the artists as they really were, and discover the real point of modern art. You will learn: not all conceptual art is bollocks; Picasso is king (but zanne is better); Pollock is no drip; Dali painted with his moustache; a urinal changed the course of art; and why your 5-year-old really couldn't do it. Refreshing, irreverent and always straightforward, What Are You Looking At? asks all the basic questions that you were too afraid to ask. Your next gallery trip is going to be a little less intimidating and a lot more interesting.

©2014 Will Gompertz (P)2014 Penguin Audio

What listeners say about What Are You Looking At?

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What a great journey

I have dabbled in visiting modern art for the last decade or so just because i like the way it seems to communicate ideas without words....I found this book gives it’s a framework and context, so the enjoy it more. Loved it

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Brilliant intro to Modern Art

Wonderful clear writing, straightforward explanations, introductions to the main protagonists. Brilliant book. So good I bought a hard copy.

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brilliant

super interesting, reads like a novel, makes not only the art accessible, but the lives of the artists as well. would highly recommend.

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1 person found this helpful

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  • c
  • 16-05-19

A detailed history of Modern Art

I didn’t know anything about Modern Art before I listened to this. Now I do. That is all.

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First class

I thoroughly recommend this excellent introduction to the world of modern Art. I was a little disappointed that the author wasn't reading his own work. However Mr McMillan made a great job of it.

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Wonderful

A very enjoyable listen on a fascinating subject told with clarity, insight and humor. Really very good.

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Highly recommended!

A must read for anybody just getting into art or already deeply immersed in this fascinating world!

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Its a great listen. Intelligent and engaging.

Its a great example of an audio text that is well read, intelligent with a good central voice that is keen to teach the history of modern art to all without being too light and poppy or too wordy and heavy. perfect balance. I'll be listening to this again.

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Brilliantly engaging

A crash course in art history which will enhance my future viewing experiences - beautifully read, and I had no concentration problems, often a drawback of audio books. As a primary school teacher I imagine it will also enhance my children's art education experience as I can now claim to know the a little more than just what I like.

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  • JJ
  • 28-03-15

strong overview of recent art history

well narrated and well connected story of recent developments in art from impressionism onwards. well worth a listen. very entertaining.

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