Forms of Enchantment

Marina Warner compellingly explores the layers of allusion, symbols and stories underlying art from the 16th to the 21st centuries. In making the case for a uniquely writerly way of thinking with and about art and artists, she sets out to share the dynamism, fluidity and passions of the objects of her enquiry. Approaching art and artists primarily through the fields of anthropology, mythology and fairy tale, Warner argues for art’s place in society as a site of enchantment: a realm in which imagination holds the key to knowledge and understanding. Metamorphosis features vividly across the imagery, media and subject matter of the artworks selected, which include pieces by Paula Rego, Damien Hirst, Louise Bourgeois, Tacita Dean and Hieronymus Bosch. This collection engages with artists – particularly women artists – noted for reaching beyond the visible and transforming a rich inner life into uncanny, sometimes disturbing matter. Inspiring and highly engaging, Forms of Enchantment unites the imaginations of artist, writer and reader, forging a reading experience that parallels the intrinsic pleasure of looking at art.