Catalogue raisonné of Ian Wilson's discussion-based art
A catalogue raisonné of Ian Wilson's work documents his practice of oral discussion as art, spanning from 1968 to 2008. The publication, produced by Van Abbemuseum, MACBA, and Mamco, inventories discussions through invitation cards, certificates, participant testimonies, dates, locations, and organizers, but contains no images, recordings, or direct transcripts. Wilson, a conceptual artist, considered spoken communication an object, stating: 'I chose to speak rather than sculpt. I freed art from its assignment to a particular place. It is now available to everyone.' The catalogue emphasizes the conceptual dimensions of his work: the tension between the actualization of speech (the artwork existing only at the moment of its realization) and the virtualization of its effects (the artwork traversing time as pure potential). Christophe Kihm contributed to the text.
Key facts
- Ian Wilson's practice from 1968 to 2008 relied exclusively on oral discussion as art.
- The catalogue raisonné is published by Van Abbemuseum, MACBA, and Mamco.
- The catalogue includes invitation cards, certificates, participant testimonies, dates, locations, and organizers.
- No images, recordings, or direct transcripts of discussions are included.
- Wilson stated: 'I consider oral communication as an object... art is information and communication.'
- The catalogue stops in 2008.
- Christophe Kihm contributed to the publication.
- The work is described as a tension between actualization and virtualization of speech.
Entities
Artists
- Ian Wilson
- Christophe Kihm
Institutions
- Van Abbemuseum
- MACBA
- Mamco
Sources
- artpress —