“Dream On Baby” Book Explores Childhoods of Ai Weiwei, Marina Abramovic and More

"Dream On Baby" Book Explores Childhoods of Ai Weiwei, Marina Abramovic and More

As a passionate gamer and art enthusiast, I have always been intrigued by the stories behind the creative geniuses that shape our world. The recently released book “Dream on Baby” by curator Gesine Borcherdt has captured my attention with its unique exploration of how childhood experiences influenced the lives and works of 33 renowned artists.


As a gamer, I’ve always strived to break free from the limitations of my past and forge my own path. In real life, I channeled this spirit when I read “Dream on Baby,” a book penned by curator Gesine Borcherdt. This compelling collection of memories from 33 artists showcases how their childhood experiences molded their creativity.

Borcherdt was motivated by her 2020 show at Haus Mödrath in Germany, “Dream Baby Dream,” to keep these distinct narratives alive. The experiences of exile recounted by Ai Weiwei close to the Gurbantünggüt Desert ignited his desire for an unconfined area to ponder freely. Vaginal Davis recalls how the painstaking care taken with packaging in a bookstore left a lasting impact on her artistic approach.

I remember my childhood days during the Cultural Revolution, just like Liu Ye does. Lynn Hershman Leeson shares how she used to visit the Cleveland Museum of Art frequently. For Richard Billingham, there’s happiness to be found even in poverty. Berlinde de Bruyckere ponders over drawing as a form of defiance against her rigorous Catholic upbringing. Being an artist, for her, was never a conscious decision.

Certain artists, such as Jeff Koons, Lynda Benglis, and Ryan Trecartin, had nurturing upbringings that welcomed their quirks. Laurie Simmons remembers her parents acknowledging her uniqueness by simply stating, “She’s a artist.”

With childhood photographs and early pieces of art as companions, “Dream On Baby” provides a moving exploration of the origins of artistic brilliance. You can buy it for $49.95 USD directly from Hatje Cantz’s website now.

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2024-07-24 19:25