Fierce jeremiads, ‘pseudomodernism’, the positive effects of the financial crisis, nostalgia and the tallest structure in the world

The popularity of enormous sculptures created by Chinese artists has little to do with a rigorous engagement with ideas or materials

Virginie Sélavy and Katja Nicodemus reflect on the cinematic highlights of 2008

A biography of George Plimpton and Frederick Seidel’s collected poems celebrate two suave writers

The best of 2008, from the Olympics to Obama, Macguffins, museum shows and new coins

The home of John Latham, one of Britain’s most radical artists, has opened to the public two years after his death

A recent exhibition of designer and architect Greta Magnusson Grossman highlights the extraordinary career of an overlooked radical

Curator Nicolas Bourriaud talks botany, modernity, time, class and exhibition-making

The best releases of 2008 and the year’s most compelling work in the field of extreme music

18 critics and curators choose what they felt to be the most significant solo shows of 2008

During economic crises, sobriety is not what art needs most

18 critics and curators choose what they felt to be the most significant biennials and survey shows of 2008

On 20th January, George W. Bush’s disastrous reign will be over, but the hard work will be just beginning

The ambitious new biennial has helped to revitalize a city still suffering in the wake of Hurricane Katrina

Q. What do you wish you knew? A. How to spell would be useful

18 critics and curators choose what they felt to be the most significant group shows of 2008

18 critics and curators choose who they felt to be the most significant emerging artists of 2008

18 critics and curators on what they’re looking forward to in 2009

Literary highlights of 2008 included a biography of Theodor Adorno, a new novel by Philip Roth and short stories by Ali Smith

What am I looking forward to in 2009?

The history of racial segregation in American art galleries and contemporary identity politics

How designers are adopting the strategies of Conceptual art

Censorship, sexuality, creativity and the economic meltdown. Featuring a specially commissioned collage by Cerith Wyn Evans

Daniel Birnbaum talks about curating the Turin Triennial and his role as Director of the 53rd Venice Biennale

Various Venues, Yokohama, Japan

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, USA

Various Venues, UK

Fondation d'entreprise Ricard, Paris, France

Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo, Brazil

New Museum, New York, USA

Centre for Contemporary Art, Glasgow, UK

Kunstmuseum Stuttgart, Germany

Various Venues, Taipei, Taiwan

greengrassi, London, UK

International Center for Photography, New York, USA

Akademie der Künste, Berlin, Germany

LA Louver, Los Angeles, USA

Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh, UK

Francesca Minini Contemporary Art, Milan, Italy

Gavin Brown's enterprise, New York, USA

Vitamin Creative Space, Guangzhou, China

The Drawing Room, London, UK

Van Abbemuseum / Muziekcentrum Frits Philips, Eindhoven, the Netherlands

Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, USA

T1-2 Gallery, London, UK

Loraini Alimantiri Gazonrouge, Athens, Greece

Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA

The Photographers' Gallery, London, UK

Mücsarnok Kunsthalle, Budapest, Hungary

MOCA Grand Avenue and The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, Los Angeles, USA

Victoria Gallery & Museum, University of Liverpool, UK