Peter Lyssiotis: ‘The Ifs of Language.’

Normana Wight, our very creative guest blogger and artist has chosen to introduce The Ifs of Language, which is copy 2 of a limited edition of 10 books by Melbourne artist Peter Lyssiotis.

‘The Ifs of Language.’
Published  in Melbourne, 2002

‘The Ifs of Language,’ is all about text, paper, type-face, and space.
Bound in linen, card, and leather; with ink and embossing: the classical elements of traditional tomes.
But it’s not!
It’s unexpected.

In the way those traditional elements are used.
They are used in a way that is about Australia in 2002; in Melbourne, with its influences from here and there; to make it distinctly ‘NOW’, and distinctly ‘Peter Lyssiotis.

I’m going to talk a bit about the book as an object, and text as poetry; ‘concrete poetry.’
In this case we’re looking at a book made in the Twenty First Century which utilises techniques that were the latest thing in the Fifteenth Century. As well as lithography. (19thCentury)

The Colophon is a bit of information about the printing and publishing of the book.

Sometimes it is in the front of the book, for example, Penguin publications; or on the last pages, like this book.

I quote the colophon in full.

‘The Ifs of Language’ was made in 2002, in an edition of ten copies. It has been printed on Magnani Veleta Avorio. Sections were hand sewn on 5 tape supports in a cross pattern French style. The book is quarter leather bound in goat’s skin and has black kangaroo leather onlay on the spine. The book has been bound at Renaissance Book binding by Nick Doslov.
The altered texts are courtesy of ad copy writers whose work appears in Time, Rolling Stone, Vogue, National Geographic, Architectural Digest, Gourmet, Australian Business Monthly, Q, Elle etc. The facing texts are mine (Peter Lyssiotis)
The book has been printed by Bernie Rackham at Redwood Limited Prints, on a Flatbed litho press.
David Pidgeon’s contribution has been invaluable in realising this book.
Thanks to William Carlos Williams, who lent me the title of the book.
Signed
Peter Lyssiotis

To really experience this book, come to the State Library of Queensland, consult the catalogue; or, if you are not used to it, consult with a librarian at the desk on level 4.
The librarian will help you, but the book will take a while to arrive. (no longer than an hour)
So, go and read some magazines or newspapers, or have some lunch while waiting for the arrival of THE BOOK.

Normana

Library Membership