Today, questions about authenticity, ownership and appropriation are more prevalent than ever in the art world. How fitting then, that New York’s Paula Cooper Gallery has organised an exhibition based on the 1968 Xerox Book, published by Seth Siegelaub and Jack Wendler, which included conceptual works made around these issues by seven artists: Carl Andre, Robert Barry, Douglas Huebler, Joseph Kosuth, Sol LeWitt, Robert Morris and Lawrence Weiner. As the gallery explains, the original project was meant to be “a group exhibition in the form of a 64-page printed book” that could be photocopied and distributed cheaply—although this turned out to be too expensive and the first edition of 1,000 books was offset printed instead. Each artist was asked to contribute 25 pages on standard 8 ½ x 11-inch paper, and Cooper is showing some of the original works related to the book, including some of Carl Andre’s concrete poems; an early definition piece by Joseph Kosuth (above); a coloured pencil and graphite wall drawing by Sol LeWitt; and Lawrence Weiner’s first catalogued wall text. The show runs until 26 October and in an aptly meta move, a booklet has been produced.
