This is an offering of recognition and appreciation to the following book dealers and interventionists who each seem committed to finding spaces to honour the physicality of printed matter and celebrate its cultural importance. Idea Books, Donlon Books, and @Artbook Their activities which push paper into hands feels a little like a resistance movement within a dominant post-industrial, informational age, that seems all about service and speed a less about reflection. I feel a little militant today or nostalgic, maybe both.

MAN-MADE: Frieze Art Fair: 16-19 October 2008

‘Objects are always signals to the imagination to begin its work. They are the furnishing of the mind’s eye.’

MAN-MADE is a commercial experiment that explores our relationship with commodities made by man. Things hold their intrinsic value by supplying the desires of the mind through their physical qualities and the personal associations we might bring to that thing. It is that want, and the why in want, that we are keen to explore.

MAN-MADE

MAN-MADE: Frieze Art Fair

16-19 October 2008

MAN-MADE was a commercial experiment that explored our relationship with commodities made by man. Things hold their intrinsic value by supplying the desires of the mind through their physical qualities and the personal associations we might bring to that thing. It is that want, and the why in want, that we are keen to explore.

"Things which are repeated are pleasing"

Based in the West End during the four days of Frieze, MAN-MADE will present and sell identical multiples of one object each day; MAN-MADE’s usp is that it removes the dilemma of choice – that great democratic idea that, if abused, can induce a sense of anxiety. The market is edited down and objects are chosen from hardware equipment to inflatable toys; the item is repeated to form an army of itself, provoking our customers’ imaginations and encouraging a sea of associations. The celebratoryand repetitive styling of the object will enforce its character upon the space and create a scene of colours, shapes and contours making a strong impression on the consumer (and hopefully) inducing them to buy.

Design historian Emily King has selected an item for sale; artist Oriana Fox responds to MAN-MADE with a performance titled Material Girl; and a site specific sound installation titled Consume from sound artist Shelley Parker will run for the four days. Bompas and Parr take us flavour tripping, and a free screening of Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s Why Does Herr R. Run Amok observes a measured man’s alienation in middle class conformity who one day can take no more. For further information please contact Charlotte Troy on man.made.pop.up@gmail.com or call on 07966 351 260.

Schedule

Thursday 16 October

Bloom’s Salami Chubs x 50: £3.50 each

Flavour Tripping with Bompas and Parr (tickets needed)

Friday 17 October 

5ft inflatable Incredible Hulk x 10: £25.00

Saturday 18 October 

File Magazine: General Idea, edited by Beatrix 

Ruf, published by JRP Ringier x 10: £125.00 each

Material Girl, performance by Oriana Fox

Sunday 19 October

Emily King selects: Hultafors folding rule x 25: £5.00 each

Why Does Herr R. Run Amok, Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Since closing Pocket, Donlon Books is the best book shop in London. No Doubt. I just came accross this: From a total edition of 125 silkscreens , this 18×24″ 3 color glow-in-the-dark poster was designed by artist Cameron Jamie in Paris and printed in the Detroit area, September, 2009. The poster was produced for the Destroy All Monsters archive exhibit “Hungry for Death” at White Flag Projects, St. Louis, Sept./Oct. 2009. From the edition of 125 there were 50 copies signed by the artist, the edition was printed on antiqued/French cream paper.