This book by the renowned art critic Guy Brett is the first attempt to bring together a fascinating and ephemeral oeuvre that escapes simple definitions. Born in Manila, in the Philippines, in 1942, and living since 1960 mainly in London, David Medalla has distinguished himself as one of the main leaders of the avant-garde. His work has adopted a multitude of pursuits and enthusiasms, forms and formats, to express a singular but deeply coherent vision of the world. Proud of his efforts to remain independent from the commercial, bureaucratic, and intolerant pressures of the art world, he has nevertheless been an international creative force, traveling, motivating artists, creating groups and exhibition spaces, and evolving his own art that aspires to the emergence of a new type of transnational and polymorphous culture.
Guy Brett (London, 1942) has been writing about art and organizing exhibitions since the early 1960s. He was an art critic for the London Times and visual arts editor of the weekly City Limits. He is also the author of monographic essays on artists such as Derek Boshier, Lygia Clark, Eugenio Dittborn, Rose Finn-Kelcey, Tina Keane, Victor Grippo, Brion Gysin, Mona Hatoum, Susan Hiller, Ghisha Koenig, Hélio Oiticica, Lygia Pape, and Aubrey Williams.
