Inherently ephemeral and often overlooked, wallpaper had by the late twentieth century become a bit of a joke in the decorative arts, a cliché with connotations of kitsch. But over the
past decade or so, a number of contemporary avant-garde artists have created installations with backdrops of specially designed wallpaper to explore themes such as warfare, racism,
gender, and sexuality.
Published to accompany exhibitions at the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, The Walls Are Talking situates these unique creations
alongside antique papers and explains how the latter have been adapted and subverted to convey meanings wildly different from what their original designers intended. Featured are
wallpaper designs from more than thirty internationally renowned artists, including Damien Hirst, Sonia Boyce, Thomas Demand, Robert Gober, Abigail Lane, Francesco Simeti, and Niki de St.
Phalle.
