Shivers down the spine

摘要

Opera refers to Price's artistic compositions of course, but it also hints at a trip to the opera. It is filled with moments of extreme incomprehension and spine-tingling pleasure. A selection of chiefly unpublished work carried out between 1985 and 2002, it acts as a sequel to Cedric Price's recently reprinted Square Book. Seven chapters deal with the themes of his work. The headings―'Bridges for all', 'Rejuvenation and rethink'―act as a sharp critique of the overused soundbites of our profession. Each chapter contains succinct precis of a set of projects which are discussed with amazing efficiency using drawings, text and a short introduction. Projects position 'the construction of the idea' as their central mission and allow the reader to join the dots and pardon the puns. Interspersed are essays by Robin Middleton, Robertson Ward Junior, John Frazer, Neil Spiller, Kester Rattenbury Jane Briginshaw, Jude Kelly, Simon Alford and Paul Finch.