The Black Book
Byars, James Lee
(Brussels). (Herman Daled). 1971
A superb copy of James Lee Byars' fragile conceptual book.
James Lee Byars had intended to collect the important questions of 100 eminent thinkers - in the fields of art, science, philosophy and theology - although many of the eminent thinkers refused to respond. He had previously performed 'I'm Collecting Questions' in 1969 and, in association, his slightly later work 'The World Question Center'. In conjunction with both of these performances, Byars issued this, his conceptual book with imaginary covers with central printed text in gold of 100 questions (or statements made into questions with the addition of a question mark) in 1971 as 'The Black Book' at a performance in Belgium. The work was later used as the cover for an issue of Flash Art; the title 'The Black Book' was also used for a Byars show at the Michael Werner Gallery in Cologne.
This copy has been stored flat using archival materials since printing and is in immaculate condition.
James Lee Byars had intended to collect the important questions of 100 eminent thinkers - in the fields of art, science, philosophy and theology - although many of the eminent thinkers refused to respond. He had previously performed 'I'm Collecting Questions' in 1969 and, in association, his slightly later work 'The World Question Center'. In conjunction with both of these performances, Byars issued this, his conceptual book with imaginary covers with central printed text in gold of 100 questions (or statements made into questions with the addition of a question mark) in 1971 as 'The Black Book' at a performance in Belgium. The work was later used as the cover for an issue of Flash Art; the title 'The Black Book' was also used for a Byars show at the Michael Werner Gallery in Cologne.
This copy has been stored flat using archival materials since printing and is in immaculate condition.
Single sheet of thin black tissue with minuscule central printed gold text. (Sheet size: 365 x 495 mm).
#47724
