Copenhague:Berg, 22 avril 1971
21 x 14.8cm, 1pp Original carbon copy of a typed and signed short note from M Berg tanking Boltanski for sending him the Sonnabend catalogue. VG+.
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Chorus, Paris 1972 18x24cm, 110pp plus card covers. Single number of the art journal, with a number of text and graphic contributions by Robert Filliou, Jacques Monory, Pierre Tilman, Le Gac, Peter Klasen, Daniel Biga, Richard Hamilton, Gérard Titus-Carmel, Rémi Esnault, Françoise Thieck, Pierre Della Faille, Claude Held, and César as well as a four page contribution by Boltanski - which is known as "Album de photo de la famille d." but internally is denoted as "Six Sounvenirs de Jeuness de Christian Boltanski" above a text in French. Fifteen small found b/w photographs are reproduced. VG+. ...
Paris: Sonnabend Gallery, 1971
22 x 13.5cm, 8pp (self cover). The artist's fifth book which has an alternative title: "ESSAIS DE RECONSTITUTION D'OBJETS AYAN APPPARTENU A CHRISTIAN BOLTANSKI ENTRE 1948 ET 1954". The book consists of 45 examples of objects from his childhood that Boltanski has tried to recreate in a variety of methods - they are mostly in text description but there are four small b/w images of some of the items. The items are mostly in clay or similar modelling materials and shown in metal drawers as if in an exhibition.
An important book which reflects Boltanski's interest in metal storage and the authority that such placements give to the objects. In VG condition but with some rust on staples.
JOINT:
Hand addressed envelope by Boltanski sent to M. Berg in Copenhagen. Franked printed stamp.
Referenced in Flay Boltanski Catalogue Page 48.
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20 x 12cm, original b/w photograph of the artist playing a pillow fights as if a child. This was one of the original images used for printing in the Catalogue/Reconstitution 1971 artist's book. Signed in pencil on the back by Boltanski. A unique photograph in VG+ condition.
The photograph was taken by Sarkis (as we all from the book).
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Paris: Grand Salon de L'Hotel Moderne Palace, 1971
10.5 x 14.8cm, 1pp typographic announcement card for a joint show with Jean Le Gac. The two artists had met early on in Boltanski's career and the latter gives Le Gac credit for influencing his work and showing him "the ropes" of the Parisian artwork. They did many early joint shows and projects together where they contributed to collective artist's books often along with Annette Messager (who soon became Boltanski's life long lover and sometimes collaborator). This seems to have been the artist's fourth or fifth show although a definitive list of exhibitions is not available anywhere.
This is a rare document in VG+ condition.
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Nice: Ben Doute de Tout, 1970
10.5 x 15cm, 1pp typographic announcement card which is also a conceptual work in itself. A series of adjectives are posed as questions about Boltanski and the exhibition. Words such as "Maniac?", "Pretentious?", "Sadistic?", "New?" in advance of the exhibition references doubt about whether the artist is pretending to be something/someone else and if his work is genuine? Ben's gallery was called in translation "Ben doubts everything" - and this rather matches that distrust of art and the world. Very scarce early card. VG+.
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Paris: s.p. (Boltanski), 1970
18 x 16cm, original vintage b/w photograph which has a text below it telling a tale of Boltanski and his brothers. The photograph does indeed seem to be of the title - Boltanksi is on the right of the trio - later such images cannot be assumed always to be true. Original first edition.
JOINT:
17.2 x 26cm hand addressed manilla envelope sent to M. Berg in Denmark.Franked 10/11/1970.
It is referenced in Flay Christian Boltanski Catalogue 1992, Page 40
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Paris: Sonneband Gallery, 1970
21 x 15cm, 16pp (self cover). First edition of this artist's book with eight b/w images of Boltanski pretending to be a young child playing in various guises - sliding down the stairs on a mattress, crying, having a pillow fight, getting ready to eat, sliding down the bannister of stairs, playing with a water pistol and entering the class room. Each was taken by his friend Sarkis.
In this book Boltanski for the first time tries to recapture his early childhood but knows full well that he must fail.
Staples rusty else VG+. This was Boltanski's fourth artist's book.
JOINT WITH:
Brown hand addressed envelope sent to M Berg and dated 14.12.70.
Referenced in Flay Boltanski Catalogue Page 42. It is work noting that we hold the original photograph taken by Sarkis and used for the "pillow fight" page.
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Paris: Musee d’art de la ville de Paris, 1970
56 x 53cm, offset lithographic exhibition poster with images of the two artist's hand holding works. Boltanski's sculpture are homemade weapons (knives). The full exhibition title (not on poster) was "Boltanski et Sarkis : moments 1-2-3". Sarkis had recently been recognised more internationally due to the important travelling conceptual art exhibition "When Attuitudes Become Form" and he wanted to co-ordinate a Parisian show with other similar artists such as Beuys but apparently the budget was not available - as a result she showed only with his friend Boltanski.
Folded for storage but in VG+ condition. Rare....
Paris: Chorus, 1970
24 X 18cm, 80pp plus pictorial covers. A single number of the art journal which alongside Boltanski are original contributions and articles on Arman, Jean Le Gac, Henri Calet and others.
Notable here are four pages by Boltanski - a b/w photograph of the artist lying on the ground of a back garden as if he has died. The same photograph is shown four times but each time showing more and more of the body in close up.
Thematically this touches on the same interest in accidents and death that the artist had explored in some of his earliest works (which described false accounts of a fatal accident). VG+. Scarce publication.
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Berlin: n.p., 1970.
10.3 x 15cm, 2pp commercial postcard with an image of the Berlin Kongresshalle and on the reverse greetings and best wishes from both Boltanski and his partner Annette Messager. VG+.
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Paris: s.p. Boltanski, n.d. (1970)
21 x 13.5cm, 12pp (self cover). The second of the artist's books created by Boltanski by writing false narratives from six b/w found images. The book has an alternative title: "Tout ce que je sais d’une femme qui est morte et que je n’ai pas connue". Sadly the poor quality staples used have rusted over 50 years but otherwise this is in VG+ condition.
This is the true first edition from M. Berg's collection which was sent by Boltanski to the collector in 1970. Rare.
It is referenced in Flay Christian Boltanski Catalogue 1992, Page 30.
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