Sam Winston, A Dictionary Story, Arc Artist Editions, London, 2005/2013

the book inside a clear plastic cover

This is a new version of Winston's original 2005 book of the same title, but this time it's presented as 3 single-sided accordions of 5 pages each. As Winston has stated "I became interested in the dictionary because it has the ability to say everything that can be ever said. It contains all the stories imaginable, but just not in any comprehensible order." Furthermore, in a recent interview (Typeroom, Nov., 25, 2020) he ruminates on the nature of the dictionary as a book, "Here's a device that is designed to explain a words' meaning by offering further words in its place - to me that is remarkable. This is a type of knowledge that can only explain itself through referencing itself".  

Each of these separate accordions plays with the connections between each word and its 'wordy' definition, with the words questioning their order in the dictionary, and then spinning out of control with their individual letters spilling haphazardly across the page creating a crazed kind of visual poetry.

Here's an excellent interview with Winston in which he talks about his practice and the history and reception of this book: SAM WINSTON - DICTIONARY STORY

3 accordions, 8" x 6", 5 pages single-sided, and when individual accordions are opened up 2ft 6".

back cover

Icon Trash, Icon Trash, Sarcofaga publishing house, Bogota, Columbia, 2016, ed. 150

A dark and powerful silkscreen work from this artist based in Bogota. In a letter accompanying this accordion the artist states, "The author (icon trash) is a very close friend of the Sarcofaga publishing, and he works with collage using old images of engravings to make his compositions, the leporello is one of his collages. He always works with sacred symbology for manipulating which we consider untouchable, the icons."

6 pages, double-sided, individual pages 6.25" x 5", when fully open 2ft 6".

reverse side

back cover