>> CONTENTS March 2008

Issue No 314 www.artmonthly.co.uk

16 NEWS

ARTNOTES

COVER Martha Rosler Transparent Box, or Vanity Fair from the series ‘Body Beautiful, or Beauty Knows No Pain’ 1966-72

01 INTERVIEW Taking Responsibility Martha Rosler interviewed by Iwona Blazwick

09 FEATURE What’s so funny? Anna Dezeuze on humour and contemporary art

14 COMMENT

EDITORIAL

LETTERS

22 REVIEWS

EXHIBITIONS A Rational Aesthetic: The Systems Group and Associated Artists Andrew Bick 23 Unmonumental: The Object in the 21st Century Peter Scott 25 Laughing in a Foreign Language Sally O’Reilly 27 Marcel Broodthaers Deborah Schultz 28 Keith Arnatt: I’m a real photographer Martin Herbert 29 Double Agent David Barrett 31 Willie Doherty Replays: Selected video works 1994-2007 Peter Suchin 32 Kutlug Ataman Martin Vincent 34 Superscope Cherry Smyth 35 Matthew Darbyshire Eliza Williams

36 PERFORMANCE National Review of Live Art Kirsten Norrie 37 BOOKS Claude Cahun Stewart Home 38 John Roberts Joan Key 39 SOUND David Shrigley Pil and Galia Kollectiv

40 REPORT Letter from Berlin Sarah James

41 ARTLAW Copyright Henry Lydiate

42 LISTINGS

EXHIBITIONS

Art Monthly 4th Floor 28 Charing Cross Road London WC2H 0DB United Kingdom

Telephone

020 7240 0389

Advertising 020 7240 0418 Fax 020 7497 0726 info@artmonthly.co.uk www.artmonthly.co.uk

ISSN 0142 6702

Art Monthly is published

10 times a year

Editor Patricia Bickers Managing Editor Letty Mooring Deputy Editor Ian Hunt Assistant Editor Frederika Whitehead Listings Chris McCormack listings@artmonthly.co.uk Advertising Matt Hale Chris McCormack ads@artmonthly.co.uk Subscriptions Brendan Fan subs@artmonthly.co.uk Distribution Brendan Fan

Events Coordinator Frederika Whitehead Publisher Jack Wendler Design bird

Published by Britannia Art Publications Ltd. All editorial, advertising and subscription enquiries to Art Monthly4th Floor, 28 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0DB, T 020 7240 0389, F 020 7497 0726, info@artmonthly.co.uk. Printed in Great Britain by BKT, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3BW. Bookshop/Gallery Retail and Newstrade Distribution: Central Books Ltd, 99 Wallis Rd, London E9 5LN, T 020 8986 4854, F 020 8533 5821, E orders@centralbooks.com. USA Distribution: Ubiquity Distributors, 607 Degraw Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217, USA, T 718 875 5491.

The views expressed in Art Monthlyare not necessarily those of the Publishers or Editors. Articles submitted for possible publication and accompanied by SAE are welcomed, but it is advisable to contact the Editorial Department beforehand. While every effort will be made to safeguard unsolicited mss, photos and other material submitted, the Editors will not accept responsibility for loss or damage. Art Monthlyis available on audio tape for the visually impaired from TNAUK, T 01435 866102. The electronic version of Art Monthlyis available on the Art Index http://www.hwwilson.com. © No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced in any way without permission. Art Monthlyhas been set in Art Monthly Sans and Art Monthly Serif.