Why does art matter to us, and what makes it good? Why is the role of imagination so important in art? Illustrated with carefully chosen colour and black-and-white plates of examples from Michaelangelo to Matisse and Poussin to Pollock, "Revealing Art" takes us on a compelling and provocative journey. Kieran explores some of the most important questions we can ask ourselves about art: how can art inspire us or disgust us? Is artistic judgement simply a matter of taste? Can art be immoral or obscene, and should it be censored? He brings such abstract issues to life with fascinating discussions of individual paintings, photographs and sculptures, such as Michelangelo's "Pieta", Andres Serrano's "Piss Christ" and Francis Bacon's powerful paintings of the Pope. He also suggests some answers to problems that any one in an art gallery or museum is likely to ask themselves: what is a beautiful work of art, and can art really reveal something true about our own nature? "Revealing Art "is ideal for anyone interested in debates about art today, or who has simply stood in front of a painting and felt baffled.

馬修·基蘭，英國利茲大學哲學講師，英國美學學會副主席，美國哥倫比亞大學、日內瓦大學、牛津大學和英國泰特大學客座教授。主要研究領域為美學與藝術哲學、倫理學和道德心理。2005年獲得英國《泰晤士報高等教育增刊》青年學術奬的提名。齣版專著有《媒體倫理》和《洞悉藝術奧秘》。