An introduction to the ideas, styles, and methods of a number of contemporary German artists in a variety of media is presented. The essays, each containing reproductions of art works representative of the subject matter, and each written by specialists in the subjects, includes the following: "Painting--Positions and Contradictions" (Wolfgang Max Faust); "Constructivism and Realism--on the Fringe" (Dietrich Mahlow); "Art as Intervention in the Human Sphere--Works Transcending Traditional Forms" (Stephan von Wiese); "Sculpture and Installations" (Andreas Franzke); "Photography as an Artistic Medium" (Klaus Honnef); "Actions-Happenings-Performance Art-Videos" (Wulf Herzogenrath); "Setting Off into New Regions--Environmental Art and Gestalt Technology" (Jurgen Claus); and "Design" (Klaus-Jurgen Sembach). A 23-item selected bibliography of resources in German also is included. (DB)