Prospectus

Info

This book highlights the artist’s interest in language, syntax and architecture. Its combination of words, lines, letters, photographs, apartment layouts and color variation produces an effect that is almost hallucinatory. Like the sentence that cannot be completely diagrammed or the word which resists normal syllabic division. Downsbrough’s work eludes easy categorisation. The title refers to the subject’s potential for various readings. Ref.1

This book was published in a series for which a fixed format, A5, was set. Here, Peter Downsbrough uses floor plans for the first time, which he cut out from the real-estate section of The New York Times (> nos. 32, 41, 48, 51, 59, 72). The book further contains two different photographs of the same terrace. A prominent role is reserved for the tilted rectangle – either outlined or as a plane – which appeared previously in AND NOW (> no. 23). Printed in light blue and “off-black”, the rhythm of the book is set by the (partially cut) words ‘displace, propose, impose, contain, confine’, accompanied by various conjunctions and lines. On the back cover is a photograph of the upper corner of an apartment building. Ref.2

Imschoot Uitgevers In 1987 publishing house Imschoot (Ghent- Belgium) started an exceptional series of artists’ books made by international artists (Giovanni Anselmo, Sol LeWitt, John Baldessari, Lawrence Weiner, Hanne Darboven, Robert Barry, Christian Boltanski, Dan Graham, a.o.). Ref.3
In addition to the regular softcover edition (500 to 1000 copies), a deluxe hardcover edition was also issued in a very limited edition, numbered and signed by the artists.
The publishing house ceased its activities in 2006.

References

• Ref.1: Imschoot, uitgevers Catalogue 1993-1994, Artists’ books What is an artist’s book? An artist’s book is … “… a book done for its own sake and not for the information it contains. That is: it doesn’t contain a lot of works, … it IS a work.” (Dick Higgins). > IC-series The IC-series is a collection of artists’ books brought together by Kaatje Cusse. The first publication was COME ON by Robert Barry in 1987. This ongoing process thus far embraces designs by 16 internationally renowned contemporary artists. New names may be added. The artists are given complete freedom to develop their projects. The format of the book, 14,8 x 21cm, is the only constant in the design. The first six publications were presented to the public at the Leo Castelli Gallery in New York on January 11th, 1989. They were also shown – together with other Imschoot artists’ books – at the Archives in Rotterdam (1991) and at Art Metropole in Toronto (1992). The books are printed in a 1000 copy softcover version, and a 25 to 50 copy hardcover version, numbered and signed by the artist.
• Ref.2: Catalogus: Peter Downsbrough – The book(s) 1968-2010; de Singel, international arts campus, Antwerp March 3 – May 22, 2011 el Canodrom, centre d’art contemporani, Barcelona 2012; Hatje Cantz Verlag 73760 Ostfildern. nr. 30
• Ref.3: Johan Pas (Een essay door -), Het kunstenaarsboek in België: de voorzet tot een geschiedenis, Kunstenpunt