That which results from a slight misreading by the (tired, preoccupied, unbiased) human eye
ACCESSION #: ICI 21803 ACQUIRED/DONOR: 1998/Visual AIDS TITLE: ‘AIDS It’s Everywhere you want to be’ DISCUSSION: A beautifully simple but powerful broadside by artist and designer Harvey Weiss that was distributed by Visual AIDS for their 1998 Day Without Art. By co-opting this symbol of corporate … Continue readingAIDS ‘VISA’ Broadside
In 1980, Braco Dimitrijević built an engraved slab into the pavement outside the Cathedral in Cologne, Germany. This photo was taken in January of 1992. Dimitrijević’s critique of history relies not only on language, the usual fodder of sign systems, but on the forms we … Continue readingThis Could Be a Place of Historical Significance
These pictures encapsulate a series of experiments recorded in a strict two-part regimen. But in this plate, the results of such seemingly straightforward science take on an iconic emptiness. Each pictogram occupies space but contain only capacious white. Each has dispensed with the subject-matter all … Continue readingMinimalistic Illustration
Caujolla, Christian; Joan Foncuberta 55 (2001) ICI Shelf: Artist Monographs First Line: “’Look out – it’s photography, so it’s probably false.’” ICI History: Today at the ICI — Twitter Feed (07-12-13) Accession #: ICI-02728
Hill, Douglas and Pat Williams. The Supernatural (1965) ICI Shelf: Paraclesus First Line: “In 1956 Life magazine introduced some traditional but dressed up American ghost stories with the caption: “The old beliefs die hard, even in this Skeptical age.”” ICI History: Today at the ICI … Continue readingLIBRARY SHELF: The Supernatural
TITLE: “Dreaming” DESCRIPTION: An iconic image from Axel Forrester’s archive that has figured prominently in ICI mythology. Donor: Lise Patt ICI LOCATION: Photo Cabinet ICI HISTORY: Laboratory Blog: HOLES (revisited) rhizome (12/2012)
Jarman, Derek Blue: Das Buch zum Film (1994) ICI Shelf: London First Line: “You say to the boy open your eyes” Last Line: “I place a delphinium, Blue, upon your grave.” ICI History: Today at the ICI — Twitter Feed: Last Line (12-03-11); First Line … Continue readingLIBRARY SHELF: BLUE
Saussure tells us that no sign makes sense on its own but only in relation to other signs. The value of a sign is determined by the relationship between signs in the system as a whole. He notes the French word mouton could be translated … Continue readingChanged Priorities
This permanent memorial at Chimayo, New Mexico evokes the language of the roadside shrine. The permanence of the ceramic calla lilies is undermined by a thin sheet of cellophane wrapped around the bouquet. Its haphazard embrace borrows the language of temporary memorials, those placeholders for … Continue readingFlowers at Chimayo
