A Brief History of John Baldessari

Tips for Artists Who Want to Sell, 1966-68  artnotebook.tumblr.com

A Brief History of John Baldessari is a short film dedicated to one of the most influential figures in contemporary art; it is directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, written by Gabriel Nussbaum, and narrated by Tom Waits. Rather than relying upon a conventional art history perspective, the film provides a fresh, witty, and unpredictable view of John Baldessari both as a leading conceptual artist and an ordinary person, showcasing the same subversive sense of humour that characterises his work:

TOM WAITS (voiceover): John Baldessari is so successful that he carries absolutely nothing in his pockets.

 

JOHN BALDESSARI: Not a thing.