Visual Art
‘THERE ISN'T MUCH OPPORTUNITY FOR ARTISTS TO PUBLISH BOOKS'
once than 'V" "
W (Mam M1919 4994
DIE-[IUD
Postcards to Madame Stanley
Something Haptic here
What it is ain’t exactly clear. But Jack Mottram is finding out. He goes in search of the new Glasgow publisher of artists’ books, TRAJECTORY.
rtists‘ books are few and far between. and
those that see the light of day are often little
more than souped-up exhibition catalogues or pricey monographs. Trajectory. a young publishing house that grew out of Something I-laptic. a Glasgow- based art collective. is all set to change that by issuing affordable books by emerging artists.
‘The beginning of Trajectory was the first exhibition by Something Haptic. at lntermedia gallery.‘ explains Becky Sik. who runs Trajectory alongside fellow Something Haptic members Ruth Barker. Stephanie Connolly and Neil MacDonald. 'We decided to make a book for the exhibition of work by all the people exhibiting. and the easiest way to get a book out was to set up a publishing house ourselves.‘ she says. ‘There isn‘t much opportunity for artists to publish books. and there isn‘t even much information out there on the process of publishing. so we thought it would be good to provide that for other artists.‘
In keeping with its origins. Trajectory takes an unconventional approach to the publishing industry. preferring to blur the lines that divide curating and editing. book-selling and mounting exhibitions. ‘It‘s important for us to curate an artist. almost in the way an exhibition is curated.‘ says Sik. ’The artists get together and exchange ideas. and the books are launched with an event. like an exhibition opening.‘
Judging by the current crop of titles. there are no concerns of overlapping. Jenny Hermanovich's Entering Space — Factual Stories and Illustrations is a dystopian sci-Ii novella. with architectural sketches of imagined utopian architecture. lirica Eyres takes a more conventional tack. collecting her angry biro
88 THE LIST 8—22 880 2005
drawings of wounded cheerleaders and porn stars. Danny Holcroft has drawn a scratchy. knowing cartoon strip. in which a pair of awkward children argue while building sandcastles.
Similarly lo-ti is Sets by Liam Stefani. It‘s a series of photocopied set lists left by unknown bands after gigs. crafting a little narrative along the way as songs are abandoned in favour of new material. There are. too. books that aren‘t quite books. including Postcards tr) Madame Stan/av by Alex Wilde (pictured). a set of puzzling cards bound tip in a wallet. and Bob (irieve and Jenni Pearson‘s The I’rrritv li'tllilt’I'S . . and Ill(’ Hummin' Snap. a hand- bound artifact with two books tied up inside.
All are the result of an open. creative publishing process. ‘It differs from artist to artist.’ says Sik. ‘Some come to us with a definite idea of the book they want to make. others have created new work through the process of the project. Jenny Hermanovich is a good example of this: she'd been doing a lot of writing as part of her practice. but didn't really know what to do with it. and didn’t have a format for it. But through doing the project she gathered together her writing and ended up with a full novel. which is pretty amazing.‘
If Trajectory was set up to provide opportunities for artists. the organisation is also mindful of the public. with most books retailing for less than a tenner. The result is a set of affordable. collectable works by artists given the chance to explore a new medium — a win win situation.
www.somethinghaptic.com
"it
THE BEST EXHIBITIONS
>I<
=l= Marimekko: Fabrics, Fashion and Architecture Finnish flair in the form of fashion, fabric, accessories and flirtations with architecture. Phew! See feature. page 16. The Lighthouse, Glasgow, Sat 70 Sep—Fri 17 Nov.
* Jannls Kounellis Made in Italy from girders. A massive metal structure strides up delicate Turkish rugs in the art college while works from 1959 to 2005 form a retrospective of the Italian-based artist at SNGMA. See review, page 89. Edinburgh College of Art, until Sun 18 Sep; Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, until Sun 8 Jan, 2006.
=l< Henri Cartier-Bresson From prostitutes in Cuba to the bowler hat workforce of London, Cartier-Bresson saw it all in his massive span of the 20th century. See review, page 90. Dean Gallery, Edinburgh, until Sun 23 Oct
* Barbara Kruger Get yourself along to the chamber of voices in this five-star video installation by America’s leading female agit-artist. Tramway, Glasgow, until Mon 26 Sep.
* Sensacional! Mexican Street Graphics Exuberant array of signs and designs from shop fronts. posters, cartoon porno comics and 30 visers of Mexico. ‘Cockeyed dancing chickens and lumpy pigs hurling themselves into the pot' are a particular highlight. Glasgow School of Art, until Fri 76 Sep.
=i= Sentences The wisdom of Ian Hamilton Finlay — that cantankerous, contrary. passionate man of letters who is 80 this year - appears on the walls of lnverleith House in coats of many fonts, sizes and colours. lnverleith House, Edinburgh, until Sun 23 Oct.