Page 17 - Studio International - March 1973

difference 20 years has made. In 1946 even the Feedback volumes of the Collected Works. The collected
artists had seen no new visual art for more than works are in fact 'versions', 'variants' or
half a decade and knew even less of the lives of `reconstructions' of many of Rot's scarce original
their fellow artists abroad. As for the general works; they cost between £2.00 and £4.00 each.
public, the vast majority of people were quite It may seem paradoxical that so much effort is
unconscious of any of the major 20th-century (Items for review in the 'Feedback', 'Graphics' going into the recording and remaking of Rot's
art movements which today many would take and 'Vision' columns should be sent to Clive output when the original books and prints are
quite for granted. To satisfy this very real Phillpot, Bud Shark and Malcolm Le Grice often put together without much regard for
hunger of the few and to enlighten others, some respectively, all c/o Studio International, posterity. In a way though, he is being
pioneer galleries started up, of which Gimpels 37 Museum Street, Londom WC1.) consistent, multiplication processes obviously
was to become perhaps the most famous. Here, fascinate him, and his remaking of past works
contrary to the prevailing tradition of English is simply a way of increasing the chances of
provincialism, there were shows of Cubism, communicating his original concept; at least one
Duchamp, Modigliani and Kandinsky. Of The catalogue of Dieter Rot's travelling of the original books is made to a 'recipe'. Rot is
younger artists, the French and English were exhibition, which has been seen in The Hague, not concerned with standardization however;
particularly well represented; among others Basle, Zurich, Baden-Baden and London, is many of his editions consist of items which are
Bissier, Soulages, Lanyon and Armitage, all had actually volume 20 of his Collected Works and is individualized because his conception of the
early shows, and Robyn Denny and Bernard entitled books and graphics (part 1): from 1947 work allows for chance factors or variation in
Cohen their debuts. Pre-Columbian and Eskimo until 1971 (published in January 1972 by input. For example volume 5 of the Collected
art were also a special concern. Latterly the Hansjorg Mayer at £3.6o). There are parallel Works entitled bok 3a, is composed of sections
Gallery itself expanded to open branches in German and English texts throughout. The cut from Icelandic newspapers, but the
Zurich and New York. Charles Gimpel will be book starts with an introduction which states contents of each copy of this volume are
missed above all for the gentle and painstaking that 'this book contains pictures and different because of the variations in the
attention he brought to all his dealings with descriptions of all books and graphics by position of the extracted sections. Volume 20 is
artists, were they students or celebrities, and for d. rot made between 1947 and summer 1971 certainly a good introduction to major aspects
helping to reestablish modern art in London at a (some of them in collaboration with richard of Rot's work, and is a splendidly produced
time when so few had the courage even to hamilton or stefan wewerka)'; it also contains book; all you miss is the feel of a row of real Rots.
entertain such an idea. definitions of terms such as graphics, pressings,
squashings, etc. This is followed by the Schmuck number I dated March 1972 (3op, no
Government support for the Arts. complete list of books (56 of them). Not only is copyright) includes an introduction from its
Continued support of the arts was announced each book catalogued precisely — number of coordinator David Mayor in which he suggests
by Lord Eccles, Paymaster-General with pages, process(es) materials, binding, that it might develop 'if not as an open forum
Responsibility for the Arts, in a Written Answer measurements, size of edition, maker/printer, for discussion of some of the problems relating
in the House of Lords on 3o January. The publisher, date — but each is also illustrated by a to art, at least as a vehicle for artists to present
Minister said: photograph of the front cover of the book, of a their ideas, as well as their art'. The
The Arts Council will receive, within the page opening, and, where relevant, of the special contributions to this number are primarily
resources announced in the White Paper on cover which accompanied limited numbers of verbal and include 'Notes on Concept Art' by
public expenditure (Cmd. 5178) and subject to an edition. Since these photographs are one- Ken Friedman, which is as much about Fluxus
Parliamentary approval, £17.388m in the next sixth reductions of the actual sizes of the books, as concept art; other contributors include
financial year compared with £13.67m in the it will be apparent that the first of the Marc Chaimowicz, Hammond Guthrie, Barry
current year. Corresponding figures for the microbooks, which is the daily mirror book of McCallion and many more. There are notes on
British Film Institute are Li .36m as against 1961, which only measures 2 cm square, looks contributors and 'Feedback from the humming
£0.94m. It is also proposed that the crafts rather small in reproduction. The fact that it is wires of global art activity' (synchronicity-
should receive £332,00o as against £200,000. still reproduced is just one more indication of honest). Schmuck is published at Beau Geste
Within the grants for the arts Lim has been the extreme thoroughness with which these Press, Langford Court South, Cullompton,
provided in 1973/74 for the further sometimes superficially ephemeral publications Devon, UK, which is 'a community of
encouragement of the arts in the regions and in have been documented. duplicators, printers, and artisans'. Don't give
Scotland and Wales, with special reference to The section devoted to the complete your prejudices against duplicated publications
the assisted areas. A similar sum will be graphics, which are reproduced in colour also free reign on account of Schmuck i because
provided for 1974/75. one-sixth actual size, succeeds the section on Schmuck 2, dated July 1972 (35p), is well
books. (Since graphics are initially defined as bound in a striking cover and should by
Corrections: In John Elderfield's article on Caro being 'not thicker than 2 centimetres', the contrast immediately make converts to the work
in the February issue of Studio International, in literature sausage, for example, will be found of the Press. This issue is devoted to four
the last column of page 73, for `... the sense of in the book section.) The 223 graphics are also Icelandic artists. Kristjan Gudmundsson
potential desirability this section possesses ...' minutely documented: process, origins, presents us with photos and descriptions of
read `... the sense of potential separability this materials, measurements etc. The range of works and performances, and some
section possesses ...' In the same article the materials which Rot draws upon is already mimeomultiples as well. Sigurdur
captions on page 74 should be reversed. notorious, but his use of domestic substances Gudmundsson has a photostrip which reveals
In the article on Jackson Pollock by David brings with it further problems of how his philosophy 'became a part of human
Freke, December issue of Studio International, documentation (not to mention conservation). beings and their surroundings', plus several
we failed to print the following For example in 1973 a comparison of the photo other photographs of assemblies of objects and
acknowledgement: The article draws on published in 1972 of big cloud of 1971 with the people, wind sculpture and wind drawings, and
research carried out for the author's MA original reveals that the lava-like mould on the an arresting photographic record captioned
report at the Courtauld Institute of Art, London. mayonnaise is steadily altering the diligently `Hommage a Grieg . .. While I listened to
He wishes to thank his supervisor Dr John recorded appearance of the work. Volume 20 is music by Edvard Grieg I shot ten arrows into
Golding, whose work was a stimulus for this concluded with a detailed biography, list of the sky.' q
research, for his help and encouragement. exhibitions, and an index to the first twenty CLIVE PHILLPOT

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