Duty Free Art

This book is a tremendous anthology of talks/essays by one of the international art scene's leading critical thinkers and finest artists, Hito Steyerl. She holds no punches here – the essays are wild and deep, taking big topics on with the panache of a careful researcher and a creative thinker.

Steyerl's writing is excellent throughout, and her way of pulling from experience and knowledge is brilliantly worked. At times, seemingly intangible links are formed between social, political and artistic ideas, leading to brilliant and sharp essays. Steyerl's gallows humour on war and violence show a caring perspective although it might be hard for some readers. Personal favourites were the essays A Sea of Data on visualising encrypted information and Her Name Was Esperanza which put a fascinating twist on email scammers, performance and loneliness.