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Boltanski, Christian.
CHRISTIAN BOLTANSKI: ARCHIVES.
Paris, France: Le Mejan ACTES SUD, 1989. Softcover. First Edition/First Printing. Unpaginated. As New. Installation Catalog/Artist Book. Published in a very small and limited print run as a softcover original only. A brilliant production by Christian Boltanski: Small-size volume format. A slim book. Austerely elegant pictorial softcovers with titles on front cover, as issued. Photographs selected and re-presented in a different context by Christian Boltanski. Without DJ, as issued. Published on the occasion of the archive-installation conceived and created by Christian Boltanski at the l' Eglise Saint-Martin du Mejan d' Arles from July 3 through September 3, 1989. Presents the artist/photographer's installation of murder victims. Each page consists of black-and-white photographs found and collected by Christian Boltanski from sensationalistic, crime-oriented magazines, arranged by him in no particular order and framed with pale gray borders. None of the victims is named, none of the actual crime scenes is shown, and none of the pictures is accompanied by an explanatory text, as if the artist/photographer were leaving it up to the viewer to "deduce" in what form the horrible crime was committed. In other words, the viewer is compelled to re-create the very human story of a death from the photographic remains of the living. Since every single photograph shows a living, often smiling human being, many of them of very small children, one is overcome with a cumulative sense of loss and profound grief, even though one does not know any of these people "personally". The relentless archival nature of the project ends up making one imagine, reflect, and feel more. Every Boltanski project is an installation, which ultimately undermines the whole notion of a "gallery exhibition" and represents the forefront of contemporary art photography. The artist/photographer installs in a site-specific manner. Boltanski's impact on art and photography is finally being recognized: He began his career as a painter of huge canvases and then, facing a crucial personal crisis, abandoned painting permanently to pursue less conventional and more conceptual ways of creating art out of the debris of history and daily life objects. "Boltanski has spent his artistic life working with the most ephemeral of materials (newspaper clippings, photographs, found snapshots, clothing, candles, light bulbs, old biscuit tins) to examine and to mark our transitory passing here on earth. Using the photograph as a central image of his work, Boltanski explores the perceived truth of the photograph and how it is often used as a shield against death. Using photographs from grade-school portraits, obituaries, tabloids, social clubs, and other common sources, Boltanski notes that the photograph can summon up not only a particular person who may have passed from this earth but indeed entire groups of people. By mining memories that may be conjured by these innocent photographs, Boltanski demonstrates the significance of the photograph to our understanding of memory, loss, and death". One of Christian Boltanski's most moving works. This is an Import title, had a very small print run, and was not distributed in the United States. This is one of very few copies available online and has no flaws, a pristine beauty. A scarce copy thus. Three of Christian Boltanski's books were selected as among the greatest photography books in "The Photobook". One of the greatest artist/photographers of the 20th century. A flawless collectible copy. (SEE ALSO OTHER CHRISTIAN BOLTANSKI TITLES IN OUR CATALOG). ISBN 2868693911. $150.00 |
