Whether you are a compulsory expert scrapbook fan who chronologically stores memories in an orderly and precise way and can tell one type of paper from the other, or you use scrapbooks to collect your thoughts, anxieties and frustrations in a punkish kind of way, you will definitely agree that this is a compelling and fun art form with no rules.
Throughout the decades scrapbooks developed from mere diaries to useful collectors of objects and visual thoughts. Wonderful examples of scrapbooks include Cecil Beaton's stylish collages and Shinro Ohtake's maximalist monster-like pieces.
Paperaholics of the world will rejoice to hear that an exhibition currently on at London's ICA (until 11th May) showcases a series of intriguing scrapbooks by iconic contemporary artists.
Curated by Andrew Roth and Alex Kitnick, Paperwork: A Brief History of Artists' Scrapbooks elevates the humble scrapbook to a proper form of art as images, drawings, photographs and texts are intertwined providing glimpses of the research behind a specific work of art or simply offering visitors a chance to get into the mind of the artist who created it.
Examples include Al Hansen's small notebooks covered with quick sketches; a facsimile of German artist Isa Genzken's scrapbook "I Love New York, Crazy City" (the original is stored at MOMA), with a mix of faxes, letters and snapshots from her American experience, and William S. Burroughs and Brion Gysin's oversized books in which newspaper clippings, headlines and adverts produce a distorted reality that helped Burroughs to create his cut-up narratives.
Other highlights include Gerhard Richter's black and white minimalist pages, Richard Hawkins' chaotic pop images cut out from music and fashion magazines and juxtaposing the New Kids on the Block to Walter Van Beirendonck's A/W 95 catwalk show, and drawings by Brigid Berlin, the American artist associated with and overshadowed by Andy Warhol.
"Paperwork"is an inspiring event proving that found and random images, printouts, cut outs, and humourous and serious images can form tangible debris of a person's life, worthy of safekeeping because they represent collages of moments in time and space imbued with the personality, energy, curiosity and inventiveness of their authors.
Image credits for this post
William S. Burroughs & Bryon Gynsin
Untitled (scrapbook 3)
1976 – 77
13.25 – 8.75 inches
Image Courtesy Andrew Roth and PPP Editions
William S. Burroughs & Bryon Gynsin
Untitled (scrapbook 3)
1976 – 77
13.25 – 8.75 inches
Image Courtesy Andrew Roth and PPP Editions
Isa Genzken
I Love New York City, Crazy City
1995 – 96
15.25 x 11.75 inches
Image Courtesy Andrew Roth and PPP Editions
Brigid Berlin
Our Guests
1968-72
11.75 x 8.75 inches
Image Courtesy Andrew Roth and PPP Editions
Richard Hawkins
Curious Yellow
1995
7 x 8.5 inches
Image Courtesy Andrew Roth and PPP Editions
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