No Fun Without U: The Art of Factual Nonsense

Rating:
Summary: Art Attack!
Review: This beautiful book, with a mass of gorgeous illustrations, documents the life and times of Joshua Compston, modern art curator extraordinaire and troubled soul. It's the story of a young person's tragically short life which also includes a huge amount of information about the booming east London art scene of the 1990's. Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, Gary Hume, Gavin Turk - they're all in here playing a significant role in Compston's story, since his Modernist-influenced collective: 'Factual Nonsense' was crucial in getting the artists to feel part of a creative community, offering a zany and sometimes megalomaniacal alternative to the sterile world of London's art galleries. Cooper seems to have researched his book with care and writes with a tenderness and interest suitable to what is, ultimately, the story of a person's brief but fascinating existence. Invaluable reading for anyone interested in contemporary art, or creativity in general.