Brian Eno announces new book ‘What Art Does’

Brian Eno has announced a new book ‘What Art Does’, in collaboration with artist Bette A.

• READ MORE: ‘Eno’ review: a solid narrative structure underpins this wilfully random documentary

‘What Art Does’ is a full-colour, illustrated hardback book, available in a limited run of 777 copies. Each copy is signed and includes a slipcase hand-painted by Eno and A, with a black-and-white PDF version also available for a week following the initial release.

Per a press release, ‘What Art Does’ will ask the questions: “Why do we do it? How does it help us? And how does it hold us all together?” by examining the “functions of fictional worlds”, and suggesting a new theory of art.

All profits will be split between two charities: Earth Percent, a climate charity co-founded by Eno, and The Heroines! Movement, a non-profit collective of grassroots teams making story projects that celebrate local women role models co-founded by A.

A limited special edition will be available to ship from Metalabel and Enoshop on December 3, and hardback and ebook editions will be available from January 16 2025. For more information visit here for North America and here for the rest of the world.

In May 2023, Eno teamed up with Fred Again.. to release the collaborative album ‘Secret Life’. The LP scored a three-star review from Will Richards for NME and read: “This surprise album – despite its frequent beauty – works best as a puzzle piece rather than a standout record in its own right.”

Earlier this month, Fred Again.. spoke about his relationship with Eno during an interview with Nardwuar.

This year, Eno shared Eno, a documentary about his life and career. The film relies on the aid of AI, which will randomise the layout of the film, every time it is screened – resulting in a new viewing experience every time. “The use of randomness to pattern the layout of the film seemed likely to override any hagiographic impulses,” Eno said to Variety last year.

In a four-star review of Eno, NME shared: “He’s cast here as the Columbus of the never-trodden sonic road, and it’s certainly fitting that one viewing of Eno can never fully encompass him.”

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