Yes, Barbara, we are thinking of you… Collecting in monograph form the artist’s major solo show at the Museum of Contemporary Art (Los Angeles) we are treated to an abundant selection of her thought-provoking work that has yet to be rivalled by a post-career retrospective (and let that day be far off in the future, thank you). From the very first pages we are thrown headfirst into the art, with an in-your-face full-page design that places each piece in a stark independent relief that mirrors the minimalism (and brutality) of Kruger’s style. Interrupting the flow of illustration after a dozen pages, we’re met with the first non-art centric text of the collection, printed on a soft green paper and carrying the voice of Gary Indiana. He speaks in general terms about Kruger’s art, painting a picture of her cultural impact that at once provides a decent artistic overview but is mired in the self-aggrandizing mode of many art critics. Thankfully his essay is short, so we don’t have to suffer too much before we’re back with Barbara. In total, there are 8 pieces of writing (including an interview with Kruger and statements from the exhibition’s organisers) breaking up what could wind up being an overwhelming amount of graphic material, which provide some interesting commentary on the various aspects of Kruger’s themes, subjects, and style. I didn’t enjoy most of the writing (I rarely do, when it comes to formal art critiques), but they at least provide a decent range of entry into thinking more critically about Kruger’s work with subjects ranging from the graphic design and “found” photo elements of her work to her place in the social milieu of the (feminist) art world. The collection itself, separated loosely into almost-visually thematic sections by the green textual chunks, shows a finite chronology of Kruger’s output - ranging from architectural installation details to her highly recognizable (and often copied) printwork, with sculptures and editorial/advertorial pieces filling in as well. Being mostly familiar with Kruger’s more graphic-oriented range, the book was an interesting revelation for me of the artist’s true depth. Some of the newer (to me) pieces were easy to put in place (such as the in situ installations which immerse viewers in her bold/harsh graphics) with what I already knew and liked, but others definitely stoke a need to explore in more depth the themes that surround and drive her artmaking as a whole. We already knew that Kruger was far more than the surface level, but the further we go down the rabbit hole of discovery the more questions we begin to have - which might be just the way to summarise the multilayered minimalism of Barbara Kruger. ( )