Rebondissements: un essai de Daniel Buren, suivi de 7 planches & 7 schémas

Black & white illus. & color diagrams. 73, [2] pp. 8vo, pictorial softcover, title on spine. Brussels: Daled & Gevaert, 1977.<br /> <P>[with]:<br /> <P>-. Reboundings: an essay by Daniel Buren, followed by 7 plates and 7 diagrams. Black & white illus. & color diagrams. 77, [2] pp. 8vo, pictorial softcover, title on spine. Brussels: Daled & Gevaert, 1977.<br /> <br /> <P> The scarce French and English editions of Buren's polemical text, both printed in editions of 530 copies; both in excellent condition. The artist was driven to write this as a pointed critique of museums and curators five years after the controversy surrounding his contribution to documenta 5: Exposition d'une exposition, une pièce en 7 tableaux. In the build-up to the quinquennial exhibition of contemporary art in Kassel, artists wrestled with the increasing creative control exerted by head curator Harald Szeemann (1933-2005). Although it conflicted with the works of his fellow artists, Buren stuck white paper printed with his signature white stripes to seven walls throughout the exhibition, taking over much of the exhibition hall. This flagrant act of institutional critique is fully detailed in the present book.<br /> <P> The French and English (translated by Philippe Hunt) versions were produced in editions of 500, with 30 additional luxury copies for both languages numbered by Buren. It was co-published by collector Herman Daled (1930-2020) and the art book publisher Yves Gevaert.<br /> <P> Both books are in excellent condition, with just the faintest wear to the extremities. There is inoffensive foxing to the top edge of the French edition. Laid-in errata slip in the French edition.<br /> <P> ❧ For an insightful examination of Buren's subversion at documenta 5, see Beatrice von Bismarck, "'The Master of the Works': Daniel Buren's Contribution to documenta 5 in Kassel, 1972," in On Curating, Issue 33 (June 2017).<br /> <P> A. Moeglin-Delcroix, Esthétique du Livre d'artiste: Introduction à l'art contemporain (2nd ed.: 2012), p. 56 (French ed. pictured).<br /> <P> Kunstmuseen Krefeld, Künstler Bücher I exhib. cat. (1993), pp. 47-48.