Richard Long: Walking in Circles

Now acknowledged worldwide as one of the finest British contemporary artists, Richard Long's stature and international reputation have continued to grow steadily since he was awarded the Turner Prize for his contribution to British art in 1989. Long's art takes the form of walks, sculptures and mud works. His journeys through the landscapes of the world, whether the Sahara Desert, Dartmoor, Japan or Bolivia, are recorded either by photographs of sculptures made along the way from materials immediately to hand, or by maps and text works, which evoke experiences of time, places and ideas. His sculptures in galleries are made by arranging natural materials, usually stone or wood; and his mud works are made on walls or floors, with watery solutions of river mud and clay. The artist provided the conception and layout for this book, which is divided into two main sections: the main body of his past achievement; and a comprehensive record of work since 1986. Art historian Anne Seymour contributes an introductory essay. The art that Richard Long creates by walking is uniquely described by the artist Hamish Fulton, his companion on many of the longest journeys. Long also talks about his work in an interview with the art historian and critic Richard Cork.