In Numbers: Serial Publications by Artists since 1955
Lis Rhodes: Dissonance & Disturbance
25 January–25 March 2012
Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA)
The Mall
London, SW1Y 5AH
England
In Numbers
In Numbers is a survey of artists’ serial publications between 1955 and the present—a neglected art form that is neither artists’ book nor ephemera, but is entirely its own unique object. From the small press in the 1960s to the DIY zine culture in the 1980s and early 1990s, artists have seized on the magazine/ postcard format as a new kind of art production.
A large cross-section of publications is surveyed, from 1950s LA to present day Japan. The diversity of the list reflects the backgrounds of the producing artists and the wide range of techniques and media. The exhibition is accompanied by the publication In Numbers: Serial Publications by Artists Since 1955, edited by Philip Aarons and Andrew Roth (New York: PPP Editions, 2010).
In Numbers is presented with special thanks to Philip Aarons and Shelley Fox Aarons.
Lis Rhodes
Since the 1970s, Lis Rhodes has been making radical and experimental films that challenge the viewer to reconsider film as a medium of communication and presentation of image, language, and sound. Dissonance & Disturbance presents films, which negotiate the relationship of image to sound, the presence of injustice and the language of resistance and opposition.
A cross-section of films charting Lis Rhodes’ career will be presented, including Dresden Dynamo (1972), Light Reading (1978), Hang on a Minute series (1983–1985), A Cold Draft (1988), and more recent works such as In the Kettle (2010) and Whitehall (2012).
A series of talks, events and performances accompany the exhibitions, offering a forum to explore issues around the work.
Events programme:
A Fragile Existence – A History of Women’s Film and Video Distribution in Fragments
1 February
A reading of archival correspondence and documents from decisive moments in the history of female film distribution followed by a roundtable discussion with Felicity Sparrow, freelance curator and researcher and founder of Circles Distribution, Julia Knight Professor of Moving Image at the University of Sunderland, and writer and curator Elinor Cleghorn.
1 Day before Yesterday – 1 Day after Tomorrow: Themerson & Themerson at the ICA
18 February
A day of presentations, talks, events, and films exploring the category-defying output of Franciszka and Stefan Themerson—an artistic collaboration spanning over six decades, covering film, publishing, typography, language and philosophy. Contributors include Jasia Reichardt, Nick Wadley, Barnaby Dicker, Robin Kinross, Manuel Graf and more.
Factory Floor
18 February
Factory Floor create an improvised soundtrack inspired by the Themerson’s imaginative interpretation of visualising sound.
From visual to textual – Typography in/as Conceptual Art
29 February
Ruth Blacksell explores the shift from ‘looking’ to ‘reading’ in the text-based art practices of the 1960s and 70s as demonstrated in the works of Vito Acconci, Lawrence Weiner, Joseph Kosuth, Robert Smithson, Dan Graham and more.
The Trouble with Image Politics
14 March
Looking toward Lis Rhodes’ use of appropriated imagery of the West Bank, Dr. Juliet Steyn will moderate a panel discussion on the social and political implications of the modes of distribution, reception and contextualization of art and popular imagery.
Publish and be Damned Fair
17 March
Publish and be Damned presents one of their vibrant and chaotic artist’s self-publishing fairs, where independent publishers will occupy the ICA for one day only to sell and trade their wares.
Panel Discussion: I Don’t Want to Make a Book
17 March
Chaired by Publish and be Damned this discussion will look at approaches to publishing online and the alternatives that digital platforms offer for artists’ books and their distribution.
Touring talks
Join curators, artists, critics and other cultural practitioners on a tour through the exhibitions.
2 February – David Herd, 23 February – Nicole Yip, 8 March – Fraser Muggeridge, 15 March – Tanya Singh
More Highlights at the ICA
9 February – Artists’ Film Club: Lisa Oppenheim – Double
7 March – Artists’ Film Club: Projecting the Self
24 March – Cally Spooner – Footnote 5
To accompany In Numbers: Serial Publications by Artists Since 1955 and Lis Rhodes: Dissonance and Disturbance the ICA will publish new artists’ editions by AA Bronson and Lis Rhodes. For more details please email vicky.steer@ica.org.uk, telephone +44 (0) 207 766 1425 www.ica.org.uk/editions
Press information: Johnny Gibson| Head of Communications| ICA | johnny.gibson@ica.org.uk | 020 7766 1407
