Expressionist Utopias Paradise, Metropolis, Architectural Fantasy

The notion of utopia exists in every culture, capturing shared dreams and common goals. This book--prepared to accompany the exhibitionExpressionist Utopiasmounted at the Los Angeles County Museum in 1993--explores how the optimistic themes of utopia and fantasy sustained faith among artists and architects in the power of art to shape a better world during the tumultuous World War I era in Germany. The exhibition's curator, Timothy O. Benson along with David Frisby, Reinhold Heller, Anton Kaes, Wolf Prix, and Iain Boyd White present the diverse manifestations of the utopia metaphor in its progression throughout Expressionism from Arcadian to manmade utopias. This work includes a new essay and an interview by Edward Dimenberg with Wolf Prix on the spectacular installation created for the exhibition by the Viennese architectural firm Coop Himmelblau.Benson, Timothy O. is the author of 'Expressionist Utopias Paradise, Metropolis, Architectural Fantasy' with ISBN 9780520230033 and ISBN 0520230035.