Joshua Compston: Factual Nonsense and the Rise of the 1990s Young British Artists

Foreword by Darren Coffield.

The text explores the life of Joshua Compston (1970 - 1996), one of the most enigmatically visionary figures from London's 1990s avant-garde scene. Whilst Joshua's life ended abruptly when he was just 25 years old, his progressive ideas continue to impact the art world in London and beyond.

Arguably there is no other contemporary of his era that has had such a profound and ongoing influence on art education in this country.

1990s London created a generational groundswell of culture, subculture and counterculture and it is clear to see the role that Joshua played in ensuring that the spiritual fire of the era became well-and- truly lit. Joshua's unconventional projects, dynamic public events, happenings and art exhibitions blurred the boundaries between art, marketing, design, fashion, public relations and urbanism in a way quite unlike any of his contemporaries. Joshua's uncanny ability to bring together the eclectic artistic voices that later became known as the Young British Artists (YBAs) cannot be underestimated; helping to provide many with innovative platforms of expression to amplify their voices whilst opening up previously unseen avenues for unconstrained experimentation.

Darren Coffield, artist and co-collaborator of Compston, comments: "For Joshua, art was a dynamo for social change and urban regeneration. As this text illustrates, many of his ideas have come to pass since his untimely demise".

The book includes collaboration with Professor Sarah Wilson, Darren Coffield and includes an interview with artististic duo Langlands & Bell.