A MESSAGE FROM THE SCULPTORS GILBERT & GEORGE. 1970. ONE OF 300 NUMBERED COPIES.

London.: Art for All. (Self-Published), 1970

20.4 x 12.6cm, 4pp with inner glued 4pp insert.

Original outer card has a detailed masonic architectural decoration in relief (stolen from somewhere) and two small colour illustrations with silver highlights (which can be seen to be Gilbert & George dressed as period footballers).

The first sheet of the inner paper insert reads:

“Gilbert and George, the sculptors, / are walking along a new road. / They left their little studio with / all the tools and brushes, taking / with them only some music, / gentle smiles on their faces and / the most serious intentions in the / world.”

On the inside of the card is a glassine envelope which contains five different 5 x 7cm, original monochrome photographs of the artists in some of their best-known early performance works namely:

‘Underneath the Arches’, from its first performance at the Slade School of Art in 1969;

‘The Meal’, a May 1969 performance with David Hockney;

‘Dusk Stroll Piece 1969’, showing the pair walking side by side in a twilit park;

and

‘Relaxing’, depicting the very young collaborators lounging happily on a rooftop (and prominently inscribed in the negative ‘A 1969 piece / A view of this city / sculpture. Relaxing [underlined] / took place on a bea- / utiful summer afternoon. / The sun shone mildly / down on the relaxing / sculptors [underlined]’).

The fifth being a double portrait of the artists in overlapping circles in opposing orientations.

One the inside of the paper sheet are five mounted specimens which are denoted as “A Sculpture Sample Entitled Sculptors’ Samples:” namely

1. G & G’s make-up.

2. G & G’s tobacco and ash.

3. G & G’s hair.

4. G & G’s coat and shirt.

5. G & G’s breakfast’

The final page of the insert reads:

“Gilbert and George have a wide range / of sculptures for you – singing sculpture, / interview sculpture, dancing sculpture, / meal sculpture, walking sculpture, / nerve sculpture, cafe sculpture, and / philosophy sculpture. / So do contact us.”

This is the rarest of the early ‘postal sculptures’ from the edition limited to 300 numbered copies, each numbered in sepia ink to rear cover.’

Perhaps one might see this as a reliquary from the origins of the conceptual art duo, personal detritus being raised to the level of worshipful icon. This is in very good condition with a couple of slight marks on the inner sheet in part caused by the tobacco that they attached to the sheet.