Page 22 - Studio International - March 1972

of a right to exercise individual initiative directed Studio International, February 1971). panel of artists. The role of APG (noit) is of an
towards the potential increase of individual Latham defines the Delta Unit as : ... a advisory nature and this body does not make
wealth. However, the majority of people find new concept whereby an old problem can be executive decisions for APG, (whereas of course
themselves in the position of selling their made accessible, the evaluation of the difference they do as Individuals, artists).' (p. 3 Group
individual abilities in exchange for the material in state between unconsciousness (e.g. sleep) Structure).
means of survival at the expense of other and an optimum state of awareness -firstly as to Latham apart, the relationships artists have
fundamental human needs. They serve the a single individual, and subsequently as to any with APG are similar to those of the employees
interests of the individual or controlling group coherent group or community. The state of of a private company; they have no control over
which has the power to create the circumstances sleep, not taken too literally, could be the destiny of the company; they receive no
for the production and acquisition of profit. represented on the scale of Delta representation wage or salary (but they may on agreement be
John Latham, in his recent Report and Offer as D = o. Correspondingly the optimum state placed in a company and receive a salary
for Sale presented at the Inn7o exhibition, would be represented by, say D = 100, thereby through the agencies of APG), and their
Hayward Gallery London, December 2-23 indicating intermediate states.' (p. 19, Delta activities are used at the discretion of APG.
1971, makes certain predictions on behalf of Unit). (Under the heading 'Structural Principles 10. The company agrees to supply to APG all
APG which have a direct bearing on this issue : in Delta' time base' and 'time base in reasonable information it requires concerning
`It should not be unreasonable to predict that communications' are discussed. For analysis and the Association and the operation of these
as a result of carefully directed dissemination comment see Gustav Metzger 'A critical look arrangements for the purposes of its research
of the basic concepts, in 20 years some thousands at Artist Placement Group' Studio International data, and also agrees that APG shall be
of millions of people will have their lives January 1972.) entitled to obtain from the artist all similar
significantly improved, qualitatively, as How has APG Research Ltd. and Trust information. APG will treat all such information
compared with their condition today; many been organized and operated in order to achieve as confidential. If APG wishes to publish any
major policy-decisions will have been altered its aims ? 'The company APG is a Charitable reference to this Association in any annual or
and innovations introduced of a kind which will Trust and with its associate APG Research any other report it will refer the text of such
be fundamentally democratic on a wider base Limited is a non-profit making intermediary references to the Company for approval
than is possible under the present short-term organization charging only for services. There beforehand.' (p.18 The Proposed Contract ...
considerations of power' (p. 8, Prospects and are no shares held in either organization. Its whereby it is suggested the Organization
Yield). This concept, involving the capital value should be seen in terms of the finalizes an Association (with an artist).)
establishment of an undefinable activity experience of its administration over the six APG Research Limited is a private company
(symbolized by Delta), an inviolable force years and in the alternative measure of value which since 1969 has been subject to the
capable of transforming the hearts, minds, and represented by Delta.... The capital value in transforming influence of the Delta motivated
practices of individuals, groups, organizations, Delta, available to APG, is a product of the individual, i.e. John Latham. The structure of
societies, forms the basis for the activities and capacity of the APG (noit) individuals in the company is that of a tightly knit, highly
practices of APG Research Limited and its conjunction with their administrative body.' autocratic family business, with a poor record
associated Trust. The implication is that it will (p. 1 Capital/Assets) Its subsidizing body is the of human relations, particularly with artists,
render both capitalist practice and socialist Arts Council of Great Britain, which according and in view of the number of companies
ideals redundant; these are seen by Latham as to Latham 'owns' APG Research Limited/Trust approached, i.e. I10, given four operational
`mere stratified habits of thought that have as a conceptual (art) work: 'It has become fairly years', meagre results -culminating in only
little to do with change'. (The Guardian, acceptable recently in areas where' sculpture' three associations for periods of longer than
August 2 1971, 'Artists on the Shop Floor' and 'painting' were recognized carriers for three months. (p. 10 Group Finance). APG is
Naseem Khan). These two forces in reality `work', for 'the concept' to be regarded as the consistent in re-affirming its entrenched
determine the context of our lives. They control chief element. It might be recorded moreover position with industry since APG contacts and
the ultimate means of destruction. that the Arts Council of Great Britain was the final contracts with industry take place at
It is difficult to imagine the intrusion of a first body to 'buy' a conceptual work as such director/management level. APG predetermines
third social transforming force of the magnitude when it allocated funds to APG....' ( ?) (p. 11 the context in which the artist's responsibilities
of which Latham speaks which was not New Concepts). are established, thus prejudicing the
conditioned by what preceded it, unless it is John Latham is the only artist who is a communications with the union/shop floor,
possible for an individual to adduce a pure Member of APG Research Limited. One (given the permanent state of conflict between
concept unrelated to the immediate and supposes that he used what is now referred to owner/management and union/shop floor).
historical socio-political context, but containing as the Delta measurement during APG's Furthermore, in the APG draft letter-form
the necessary elements to change our development. And therefore APG itself must `whereby it is suggested the individual confirms
relationships with the world. The more one be an example of what might result when other his acceptance of the terms of Association' the
considers the character of Latham's concept organizations are exposed to a Delta individual. artist agrees '5. That I will not knowingly do
and his assertion of the mass value of its One assumes that the other 13 members of anything which might prejudice the Company's
potential, the more it assumes the guise of a APG Research Limited support the (Latham) interests.' (p. 18) APG commits the artist to an
faith. The dismissal of whole areas of socio- APG concept, and yet they have together with implicit support of the company's interest at
political philosophy as 'mere stratified habits Latham assumed power over and above the -board room level. No room for Delta here.
of thought' is understandable since they are artists who have related to APG as members of . One might conclude that APG Research
aspects of the baser material world the artists' (noit) panel. This seems to contain a Limited and associated Trust, noit artists
unenlightened by the absolute unmeasurable contradiction since it is Latham's (APG's) claim panel, Arts Council and industrial support,
measure Delta, the Godhead : APG could that it is the artists, excluded from decision- artists and employees etc. -all the paraphernalia
be said to have started from a position in outer making powers in APG, who have the -are a set of devices which serve the imagination
space, albeit focused hard down on the surface mysterious Delta ingredient capable of of one artist. This may well be in accordance
phenomenon of an encapsulated planet. The transforming industrial and organizational with the practices of capitalist society, but in
view is projected by the shafts of illuminating contexts. Latham has also been, at least until terms of art and people it is disastrous. Art
energy that come from individual apprehensions the Inn7o exhibition, the chairman of the cannot exist at the expense of people. It
of a new fundamental concept, one that has not artists' (noit) panel. 'The term noit refers to becomes a form of tyranny.
yet reached the public circuits.' (APG insert in the activity of the individuals comprising the STUART BRISLEY

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