The World's Greatest Erotic Art of Today - Volume 1.
Published by Erotic Signature. ISBN-10: 0979596408
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In 2006 US based 'Erotic Signature' launched an international erotic arts competition. Its laudable aim was to raise money for charities supporting those living with HIV/AIDS and also those bodies who raise awareness and research into said disease.
An international jury was created from an eclectic group of artists, museum curators, editors and academics - ranging from the qualified and
experienced, such as Dr Laura Henkel, Javier De Pison, Julian Murphy and Dian Hanson, to the questionable, e.g. John Dietrich. Artists entered, the deadline arrived, the artworks judged, the 200 winners announced and the self styled 'The World's Greatest Erotic Art of Today - Volume 1' is the result.
The artists range from established professionals to non-professional and potential future names and cover heterosexual, homosexual and sapphic themes.
If I have one major criticism then it has to be with the book's title - it is cliché, cheap, clumsy and unimaginative but, more importantly, it sets itself up to the obvious
counter criticisms inherent within it. Despite there being some great artworks within its covers there is much that isn't of sufficient quality or originality to justify the title and to be honest it is only made up of those artists that actually entered the competition. But the major concern is that it displays a very Western-centric depiction of erotica and not, as the title would suggest, one that is drawn from the many cultures and countries that make up 'The World'.
This sounds harsh and, to be fair, such criticisms could be made about many competitions and anthologies of this type but, in my opinion, the publishers have scored an own goal by selecting 'The World's Greatest Erotic Art of Today' as a title. I am surprised that they did not use the perfectly usable alternative title available to them already and that is 'Erotic Signature.'
The volume is split into four main categories - 'Fine Art', 'Photography', 'Digital Art' and 'Sculpture'. In addition there is a useful directory listing contact details of each of the artists selected for the book. The 255 pages that make up the collection are printed to a high standard, on heavy weight art paper, that does full justice to the artworks. The anthology provides for an enjoyable viewing experience and it is fun to compare the winners with the runners up and see if you agree with the judges as to their final decisions.
'The World's Greatest Erotic Art of Today - Volume 1' is published in hardcover, softcover and numbered limited editions.
Erotic Signature states that they have selected four potential benefactors from which one will be chosen, through a vote by members of their website, and that 100% of the profits raised by the sale of 'The World's Greatest Erotic Art of Today - Volume 1' will be donated to the charity that wins said vote.
Review by Christopher John Ball
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