12 ‘lectures’ by German performance artist John Bock in a collage-style artist's book.
John Bock, who has made a name for himself internationally, works primarily with scenic arrangements. He stages semi-theatrical, semi-improvised opulent performances in his stage-like, walk-in sculptures made of fabric and scrap metal. His rural origins, amateur philosophy and references to Viennese Actionism in particular are equally integrated into the actions, which the artist often succinctly refers to as ‘lectures.’ In his sometimes acrobatic performances, Bock mixes thematic fragments from science, art and everyday life into a highly explosive mixture that focuses on the question of the relationship between life and art, society and the individual. With a wealth of images and texts by the artist, this collage-like book traces around 12 ‘lectures’ by John Bock, who attempts to define the world by creating one of his own.
Published by Hatje Cantz Verlag, Ostfildern, 2001 · Edited by Eva Schmidt, Gesellschaft für Aktuelle Kunst, Bremen · Softcover · 116 pages · 24 x 29.90 cm · English/German · ISBN: 978-3-7757-1005-3