Synopsis

John Baldessari revolutionised contemporary art in the 1960s and his artwork is still a profound influence on young artists today.

Baldessari's work often attempts to point out irony in contemporary art theory and practices. His early photo-and-text works aimed to make art more accessible, looking for what he called "more of a common language". His paintings are collage-based, achieved by placing images in cut-out shapes or removing them to be replaced by others.

This film reveals Baldessari in all aspects of his work: as an artist in his studio, alongside the technicians who support him, as a teacher interacting with his students, and as a passionate observer of the contemporary art scene in Venice and Basel. It offers valuable insights into the work of a radically modern-thinking artist and sharpens our perception of the often inaccessible world of contemporary art.

The DVD also features You Call That Art, an exclusive interview of the artist by Allan Kaprow. Additional material includes interviews with David Hickey, Mike Kelly, Thomas McEvilley, Ed Ruscha, Coosje van Bruggen, Lawrence Weiner and Ealan Wingate.

Art Lives, from Arthaus, is a powerful and arresting series of documentaries on artists and art movements released for the first time on DVD in the English language.