Project Statement

by J. Lyons

I had been making annual trips to Mexico City for three years, spending one or two weeks photographing. This was the richest visual environment I had experienced in a city. It was also the first time I had seriously photographed in color, a possibility opened up for me by digital technology. Somewhat overwhelmed by the third year, I decided I needed a defined project to order my work, and focused on a dominant feature of the city--its signage and graffiti, entire buildings and walls covered in riotous colored text. For me, this was purely visible language largely divorced from meaning, since I don't read Spanish. I made an alphabet book as an entery into this other language and culture.

Abecé: (Mexico City Book 2)

Joan Lyons

Agents

Joan Lyons

type: initiating

role:
artist
author
publisher
designer
photographer

nationality:
born: United States

dates:
birth: 1937-03-06

Publication Information

publisher: Joan Lyons

dates:
production: 2004

publication history: Two editions were produced: a small (open) edition and an edition of 50 printed on a digital Indigo press. [J. Lyons]

Aesthetic Profile

movement:
unknown

subject:
artists' books (LCSH)
photographs (LCSH)

themes: Visible language, Travel [J. Lyons]

content form:
alphabet book (AAT)
visual narrative (local)

publication tradition:
multiples (AAT)

related works: Mexico City (Book I, Walls) [J. Lyons]