Generative Art Group Catalogue (and) Gradually Going Tornado! Paul Neagu and His Generative Art Group (Ceolfrith Press 34).

London & Sunderland.: Generative Art Group / Ceolfrith Press., 1973 & 1975.. Two volumes, original wrappers, stapled.. (22 x 15.7 cm; 21 x 15.2 cm).. pp. 64; 48. Black-and-white illustrations throughout. Two booklets by the Generative Art Group (GAG), both sent to Ira Licht at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago (with mailing envelope stamped 1976). Accompanied by a handwritten letter from Paul Neagu, dated 7 April 1976: “Mr R. Demaerco has wrote to me to inform that you have ask for more informations about my work !? … Please receive the two catalogues in this envelope and I will be ready to send you a lot more material, on my work, if you are really interested”. In 1972 London-based Romanian artist Paul Neagu established the Generative Art Group, seemingly encompassing five members: Neagu, painter Husny Belmood, designer Philip Honeysuckle, painter Edward Larsocchi and poet Anton Paidola. In reality, Neagu generated all the work himself, and the other artists were entirely imaginary, with each alias representing a different part of Neagu’s creative psyche. This scam apparently did not stop the Arts Council from helping to sponsor the GAG group show associated with first of the catalogues presented here (publ. 1973). The catalogue is stamped with the GAG red inkstamp, numbered from an edition of 500, and signed in pencil by Neagu on behalf of the entire art group. The second booklet, ‘Gradually Going Tornado!’, was published by the Ceolfrith Press for an exhibition of the GAG at the Sunderland Arts Centre (signed by Neagu on title page).