Critical Analysis

by E. Rettberg

Design Features

typographic: The book supplies a kind of mockery of typography by replacing the varied alphabet with repetitions of the letter "i".

graphical: Since the text blocks are evacuated of meaningful textual content, the reader experiences the page layouts as purely graphical objects.

openings: Each verso has the same two columns of the letter "i".

turnings: Much of the book's enjoyment arises from the surprise at turning each leaf to see a new possibility of arrangement forged from the same limited set of elements.

For Fans and Scholars Alike

Agents

Ulises Carrión

type: initiating

role:
artist
designer

Publication Information

edition type: editioned

publisher: Visual Studies Workshop Press

place: Rochester, NY

dates:
publication: 1987-03-00

edition size: 200

Measurements

depth: 1/4 inches closed

horizontal: 5 5/8 inches closed

vertical: 7 3/4 inches closed

Production Information

binding: perfect (AAT)

substrate:
bookBlock: paper

media:
ink (local)

other materials: None

Appearance

general description: A compact gray volume featuring repeated fields of "i"s and letter-like symbols interspersed with unrecognizable half-toned images in various shapes.

format: codex (AAT)

cover: Each gray cover features a large block of repeated monospaced "i"s; the title is printed in a simple serif font above the artist's name.

color: no

devices: None

Content

pagination: unpaginated 92 unnumbered pages.

numbered?: unnumbered

signed?: unsigned

Colophon

This book has been produced by Ulises Carrión, in an edition of 200 copies, during a residency at Visual Studies Workshop Press in March of 1987. The artist-in-residence program is supported, in part, by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts.