John Latham
Zambia, b.1921. Latham’s practice of destructing books is well documented, for example the artist’s ‘Skoob Tower Ceremonies’ in the Destruction in Art Symposium (1966) involved the artist destroying towers of books by fire and explosives.
Gibson’s Guide, c.1989
170 x 230 x 235mm. Mixed media glass, book and silicone sculpture.
This sculpture was given by John Latham to the lawyer Paul Spraggon in lieu of payment for his services after Spraggon helped the artist with a legal dispute with the Arts Council. The book titled ‘Gibson’s Guide, Fifteenth Edition, 1922’ relates to law. Latham made these sliced book sculptures from the late 1980s until the early 2000s. On a larger scale, the front of his home and studio ‘Flat Time House’ (FTHo) in South London involves a huge book sculpture on either side of the glass frontage. It is likely the glass in these smaller book sculptures are also shop front glass. As usual, this book work is unsigned but comes together with a declaration statement from Paul Spraggon. Provenance: Paul Spraggon. Condition: A thin layer of dust has settled on the work, there are some glue and general marks to the cover, presumably from the construction by the artist. There is some bruising and chipping to the top and bottom of spine and a closed tear to the edge of the top section of the spine where it meets the cover.
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Untitled, 1983
163 x 60 x 48mm. Book on MDF with polyvinyl finish sample plate, plaster, paint and metal screw.
This piece can be dated to 1983, as it is mounted on a polyvinyl sample plate from a Dutch company that was involved in the production of Latham's show. This particular book sculpture was a gift to Paul and Helene Panhuysen, who ran the Apollohuis, a space for experimental music and visual arts in Eindhoven (1980-2001). Latham participated in an Artist Placement Group discussion at the Apollohuis in 1982. In October 1983 he presented 'Surveyer's Report', a solo exhibition of 17 panels including book sculptures, which he produced in situ (later shown at the Van Abbemuseum Eindhoven and Palais des Beaux Arts in Brussels). The exhibition featured cream/white books mounted on white board, this particular work was gifted to the Apollohuis directors and was exhibited at the Van Abbemuseum and probably the following two shows. The pages of the book are set within plaster on top of the board and are all blank (without text) as this must be either the top or bottom section of a cream covered book.
£2,750
Book of Common Prayer, c.1982
50 x 40 x 28mm. Machine cut corner of a common prayer book.
The arc of the cut echoing the arched back of a praying figure. This particular book sculpture was a gift to Paul and Helene Panhuysen, who ran the Apollohuis, a space for experimental music and visual arts in Eindhoven (1980-2001). Latham participated in an Artist Placement Group discussion at the Apollohuis in 1982. He also stayed with the directors of the Apollohuis when working on the exhibition ‘Surveyor’s Report’ at the Van Abbemuseum Eindhoven in 1983.
NFS
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