08 Aug

Posted at 20:28h in ARTIST’S BOOKS

Bruxelles/Hannover/Paris: Editions Lebeer Hossmann/Christian Boltanski, 1998
21.7 x 15.6cm, 34pp plus wrappers. First edition of this artist's book with 32 b/w images of the artist again reproducing scenes from his childhood - mostly of his memories of playing games. The photographs were all taken by Annette Messager in 1972 but the legends below each image (In French, English and German) clearly states they are contemporary to the artist's childhood. One of 1.500 copies of a second edition printing of the book tweinty-six years after the original. This second edition is printed in a larger paper size than the first edition. VG+.

...

08 May

Posted at 19:17h in EXHIBITION CATALOGUES

Paris: Centre d'histoire de l'art contemporain, 1991
23 x 16.3cm, 188pp plus card covers. Exhibition catalogue for an exhibition of works from the period 1968 - 1972 which was given as a class project to a number of curatorial students. The book has essays about and images from Boltanski, Bernard Borgeaud, Andre Cadere, Paul-Armand Gette, Jean Le Gac, Annette Message, Gina Pane, and Sarkis. Some wear around the spine but else VG. Scarce.

...

28 Jun

Posted at 20:55h in EPHEMERA

Haute-Vienne: Musee Departmental, 1990
17 x 12.5cm, 4pp announcement card for a joint show between the partners. Inserted inside the card are two colour offset lithographic prints on thin paper. Boltanski's is a brightly coloured image of some purple flowers on a purple background. VG+.

...

23 Aug

Posted at 20:26h in ARTIST’S BOOKS

Moscow: Maison Centrale de L'Artiste, 1989
11 x 15.5cm, printed envelope in red and black on cream content of four different postcards with images of the exhibition and two 21 x 15cm, 2pp leaflets with texts in French and a reproduction of two press articles in Russian.
The exhibition catalogue in unusual format for a group show of French artists which included Boltanski, Daniel Buren, Sophie Calle, Robert Filliou,, Paul-Armand Gette, Jean le Gac, Annette Messager, Philippe Parreno, and Sarkis amongst others. The images on the cards do not seem to include any obvious Boltanski work. All VG+ in slightly word and minorly torn envelope.

...

12 Apr

Posted at 18:32h in ARTIST’S BOOKS

Denville: Artforum (Volume XXVII No. 8), April 1989 26.8 x 26.8cm, unpaginated (c. 300pp) plus wrappers. A single number of the long running art journal which has an original page work by Boltanski (joint with Annnette Messager) on pages 126 - 129. Two b/w images of children with stuffed toys (chosen by Boltanski) are reflected in two colour images by Messager which use later examples of the toys to create new photographs. This is a very unusual joint work by the lovers. VG+.
Reference: Flay Catalogue Page 182.

...

15 Jun

Posted at 14:36h in ARTIST’S BOOKS

Paris: Limage, 1979.
26 x 18.5cm, 144pp plus original card covers. Artist's book created y Pierre Tilman which has original contributions by Annette Messager, Pascal Doury, Peter Klassen, Urs Luthi, Jacques Monory, Arnulf Rainer and Bruno Richard as well as Boltanski.
Boltanski's contribution is 6pp and is Les Jardins Japonais which is a pair of photographs of a model garden in black and white with the lighting creating a strong polarisation of the images.
This is the first known printing of such an image from a model - similar works were later the main subjects of photographic works and artist's books such as Lanterne Magique in 1982. The style of the photographs showing a "trail" of light which bends over the pages is similar to later works also.
This book is not referenced in any catalogue raisonne. Very rare. VG+.

...

16 Sep

Posted at 19:27h in ARTIST’S BOOKS

Vaduz: Roberto Altmann, 1977
28.3 x 20.9cm, 40pp and card covers. A single number (and the last in the series) of an artist’s periodical that was produced unusually in Liechtenstein, This themed number is a collection of postcards by Roberto Altmann, Christian Boltanski, H.P. Gassner, Paul-Armand Gette, Norbert Haas, Gilbert Lascaux, Annette Messager and Maria Nevelson which are bound in and serrated to allow removal and use if desired. Boltanski shows appropriated images of a goat, children playing, a girl posing, a yacht amongst other things. The images used here were also released as a stand alone artist’s portfolio also by Altmann also entitled Les Vacances but in a cardboard folder. Flay in her Catalogue of Boltanski books notes that but does not reference this periodical presumably not knowing of it. VG+. Very scarce publication.

...

05 Jun

Posted at 09:27h in EXHIBITION CATALOGUES

Arnhem: Stichting Festival, 1977
23.5 x 17cm, 28pp plus card covers. Exhibition catalogue and programme for the annual festival which includes Annette Messager, Pieter Engels, Sigurdur Gudmundsson, Timm Ulrichs, Carolee Schneemann and others. Boltanski exhibited "Les 21 vetements de Francois C. en 1972" and there is one b/w image of part of that work. ...

25 Jun

Posted at 12:06h in EXHIBITION CATALOGUES

Bonn: Rheinisches Landesmuseum, 1976
20 x 20.5cm, 120pp plus original pictorial card covers. Exhibition catalogue for a joint show between the life long partners and artists. Boltanski's images are all found (appropriated) images while Messager reproduces found drawings and cartoons. Both artists are working here in the field of appropriation - the act of choosing a particular image is the artistic act and by recontextualising the image (by displaying it in, say, a museum) the picture is given a different meaning or interpretation or function.
Short essays in German by Lothar Romain and Klaus Honnef. VG+.

...

04 Sep

Posted at 09:35h in LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS

Paris: Boltanski, 4 septembre 1974
29.7 x 21cm, 2pp Original handwritten letter in blue ink from Boltanski thanking Berg for his "bravery" in buying a painting from a young artist from a strange gallery.
Boltanski mentions Annette Messager's book and says he is very happy to create a book with Berg and announcing that he will soon send a maquette for the publication.
Boltanski says he has a new idea for works - a series of "burlesque" images of sketches (which are to be photographed - one being displayed in the work at the Munster Kunstverein.
He then sends his best wishes to Berg's wife, has good memories of his trip to Copenhagen and hopes to return one day.

A further handwritten addition from Annette Messager thanking Berg for his support and saying that she is working hard.
Both notes are signed by the writer.

...

28 Aug

Posted at 09:43h in LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS

N.p. (Copenhague): Berg, 28 Aout 1974
29 x 21cm, original vintage carbon copy of a signed letter from M. Berg to Boltanski.
The letter says that Berg cannot come to Paris soon and that he has good memories of a meeting in Copenhagen with Boltanski and Annette Messager and the discussions about Messager's artist's book he was shown.
Berg mentions the clipping from the newspaper he sent before and a new clipping (see elsewhere in this collection) about the artist and he discussed Boltanski's development as an artist with his friend John Hunov. The conclusion of that discussion was that Hunov and Berg request to commission a book from Boltanski for publication by Berg Verlag and by the Galerie Daner.
Berg explains that he is in Copenhagen for the whole of September and that would be a good time for reflection and (one presume's) completion of such a project.

Some typed corrections but overall VG+.
This proposed book was later realised underthe title of "DESCRIPTION DES 34 REGLES ET TECHNIQUES UTILISEES EN JUIN 1972 PAR UN ENFANT DE 9 ANS." An important letter.
JOINT:
A hand typed original envelope from Bergs Forlag with Boltanski's address on it but seemingly unused. VG.

...

Shopping cart0
There are no products in the cart!
Continue shopping