SPIRALEN, SOM NGLE TIL GRAFISK FREMSTILLING AF DEN DYNAMISKE FILOSOFI OG KUNSTOPFATTELSE I: SPIRALEN. 1953.

Copenhagen: Spiralens udstilling pa Charlottenborg, 1953

32 x 11.5 (closed size broadsheet: it is folded several times) which opens to 64 x 45cm.

The exhibition catalogue and manifest of sorts issued by the Spiralen group.  Jorn was a key member of the group that also included the Dutch surrealist Wilhelm Freddie as well as later art luminaries Mogens Balle and Dahlmann Olsen. Jorn was something of a serial participant of artists’ groups having been part of Liniens in the 30s as a very young man, then Cobra followed by Spiralen, Host, then the Bauhaus Imaginista and finally the Situationist Internationale from which he was expelled by Debord (and yet Jorn continued to give funds to the latter as well as the break away groups from Debord  such as the one led by his brother and the German IS faction SPUR).

This is a magnificent publication illustrated throughout with various works by Freddie, Jorn, Jans, Macholm amidst texts of humour and serious theoretical thought. Once fully opened out the broadside displays seven original lithographs in blue, orange and black by Jorn, Wilmar, Balle, Kriland, Dalsgard, Jans and Neilson. Sixty-five works are noted as being included in the exhibition and there is a photo-collage of most of the participants in b/w on the back page below a menu by Freddie which incorporates artist’s names into the titles of meals.

Curiously while both Alechinsky and Dotremont were members of the group there is no mention of these significant participants herein. Some clean tears along the fold-lines and at intersections and one 3 cm closed tear on a single edge and the paper is starting to slightly brown but otherwise this is a very good + example of a rare and important document.