Phantom Punch: Contemporary Art from Saudi Arabia

Contemporary Saudi Arabian art is a conceptual phantom punch that American audiences didn't see coming. Published on the occasion of the 2016-17 exhibition Phantom Punch: Contemporary Art from Saudi Arabia at the Bates College Museum of Art in Lewiston, Maine-the site of Muhammad Ali's lightening fast knockout of Sonny Liston-this profusely illustrated book offers a significant contribution to the understanding of current trends in Saudi art. It also presents critical new perspectives on Saudi society and culture from a group of perceptive young artists who are challenging conventions and exploring the limits of what is possible in their country.  Danforth's essay explores the themes of religious extremism, the position of women, modernization and globalization, and includes in-depth discussions on 15 emerging to leading Saudi artists, and two online digital platforms that have emerged since the Arab Spring. Mills' interview of Stephen Stapleton, co-founder Edge of Arabia with Abdulnasser Gharem and Ahmed Mater in 2003, recounts the recent history of contemporary Saudi art and EoA's role in presenting it at museums in the Middle East, Europe, and more recently the United States over the last fourteen years.