Six Years: The Dematerialization of the Art Object

Lucy Lippard's Six Years chronicles the emergence of conceptual art from 1966-1972 through an archive of exhibitions, artworks, and writings. The book functions as both historical documentation and critique of this pivotal period when art began moving away from traditional objects toward more ephemeral forms. The chronological collection includes exhibition catalogs, artist statements, critical essays, and photographs that trace conceptual art's development across North America and Europe. Lippard's curatorial eye assembles primary sources from hundreds of artists including Sol LeWitt, Eva Hesse, Robert Smithson and many others working at the boundaries of materiality. This sourcebook captures a moment when artists challenged conventional definitions of art by experimenting with language, performance, site-specific works, and documentation. Key themes of dematerialization, institutional critique, and the relationship between art and information emerge through the assembled texts and images. The volume stands as both historical record and theoretical framework for understanding how conceptual art transformed artistic practice and opened new possibilities for what art could be. Through its innovative structure and content, the book itself becomes a kind of conceptual artwork.

Readers consistently note the book's value as a primary source document of conceptual art from 1966-1972, with firsthand accounts of exhibitions and movements as they happened. Many appreciate Lippard's month-by-month chronological format and extensive documentation. Likes: - Detailed exhibition descriptions and artist statements - Comprehensive timeline structure - Original source material and photographs - Personal observations from Lippard as a curator Dislikes: - Dense, academic writing style - Minimal analysis or context provided - Difficult to follow without prior art knowledge - Typography and layout make text hard to read Review Scores: Goodreads: 4.25/5 (177 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (24 reviews) Reader Quote: "Like reading someone's detailed diary of the period - fascinating primary source but requires work to piece together the bigger picture." - Goodreads reviewer Many readers recommend pairing this with other conceptual art texts for better understanding of the movement's significance.

Conceptual Art by Peter Osborne Charts the historical development of conceptual art movements through primary sources and theoretical frameworks that connect to Lippard's examination of dematerialization.

Art After Philosophy and After by Joseph Kosuth Presents collected writings from a key conceptual artist who explores the same period and theoretical territory as Lippard while focusing on language's role in conceptual art.

Out of Actions: Between Performance and the Object by Paul Schimmel Documents the shift from object-based art to performance and temporary works through case studies that parallel Lippard's timeline.

Overlay: Contemporary Art and the Art of Prehistory by Lucy Lippard Extends the ideas from Six Years by examining how contemporary artists connect to prehistoric art forms through processes of dematerialization and earthworks.

Information by Sarah Cook Examines how information-based and digital art practices evolved from the conceptual art movements Lippard documented in the 1960s.

🔸 Lucy Lippard wrote this influential book while actively participating in the art movements she was documenting, making her both a chronicler and a participant in the conceptual art revolution of 1966-1972. 🔸 The term "dematerialization" in the title refers to art that exists primarily as ideas, documentation, or temporary installations rather than permanent physical objects—a radical departure from traditional sculpture and painting. 🔸 The book is structured as a chronological timeline, featuring over 200 exhibitions, events, and artworks that challenged conventional art market systems and institutional frameworks. 🔸 Despite focusing on conceptual art's rejection of commercialism, the book itself became a highly sought-after commodity and has been reprinted multiple times since its original 1973 publication. 🔸 Many artists featured in the book, such as Sol LeWitt, Lawrence Weiner, and Joseph Kosuth, went on to become major figures in contemporary art, though they were relatively unknown when Lippard first documented their work.