Professor David Hopkins

This paper constitutes a set of reflections on the idea of inebriation as it relates to twentieth century avant-garde practice. Although it is routinely accepted that artists indulge in bohemian excess, whether involving drugs or alcohol, very little direct attention is normally given to the theme. What connection might notions of inebriation have with the homosocial interpersonal dynamics of avant-garde organisation ? How was this thematised in the art of the 1980s and 90s? The discussion will draw on aspects of my previous Art History paper on Gillian Wearing and Martha Rosler, and incorporate a number of new observations relating to the theme.

Speaker Biography: David Hopkins is Professor of Art History and Theory at the University of Glasgow. He is a widely recognised expert on Marcel Duchamp, Surrealism, Photography and Contemporary Art with a special interest in masculinities. He has published extensively within these fields, including ‘Marcel Duchamp and Max Ernst: The Bride Shared’ (Clarendon 1999), ‘After Modern Art 1945-2000′ (Oxford 2000), ‘Dada and Surrealism: A Very Short Introduction’ (Oxford 2004), and ‘Dada’s Boys: Masculinity After Duchamp’ (Yale 2008). Hopkins has guest curated two exhibitions with The Fruitmarket Gallery, ‘Dada’s Boys’ (2006) and ‘Childish Things’ (2010). He is also a published poet.

All welcome. Admission free.