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It Never Ends

John Armleder - It Never Ends
Comprehensive documentation on the vast and daring interdisciplinary project conceived and staged by the Swiss artist John Armleder, a programme of exhibitions comprising invitations to other artists as well as presentations of different collections, for the Kanal-Centre Pompidou spaces.
Between an artist's book and a catalogue, this publication follows up on John M Armleder's multidimensional exhibition at KANAL in 2020-21. Through archival pictures and in depth conversations, the unusual form of the book is designed to recreate the immersive experience of this collective experiment, and proposes a dive into something akin to a large self-portrait, conceived through the works of more than a hundred artists.
It Never Ends was a "carte blanche" experiment by John M Armleder at KANAL – Centre Pompidou in Brussels. This collective and multidisciplinary exhibition took place over nine months over the six floors of KANAL – Centre Pompidou's "Showroom": a spectacular 6000 m2 space at the forefront of the former 1930s Citroën Garage, made visible one last time on this occasion before closing for renovation.
The exhibition—incorporating a program of artist's commissions, collective exhibitions, concerts, and performances within an immersive landscape made up of a series of specially designed large-scale installations—was devised by Armleder as a multidimensional and lively artistic proposal in constant movement. It Never Ends, the artist's most ambitious project to date, unlike the more conventional formats of the solo show, the retrospective, or the artist's choice, offers a more hybrid experience: a collective self-portrait in a sense, and a way for the artist—for whom issues of hospitality, collaboration and friendship have always been central—to (re)present himself, through the works of others.
It Never Ends was due to open in April 2020. Postponed because of the pandemic, it finally took place in September of the same year, and was organized in two parts, lasting until April 2021. While its shape, its accessibility and its resonance changed, it seemed necessary to devise a publication that would not only be an archive of this atypical project but also a continuation of this collaborative dynamic. Hence, this unusual volume, conceived by Brussels-based designers Sunny-Side-Up, was imagined to emulate the immersive experience of Armleder's curatorial experiment, through its lush visual documentation and in depth conversations with the artist and curators. Put together like two books in a single object, it can be read "in stereo," allowing a subjective and ever-changing course amid the texts and pictures that were produced specifically for it. Featuring an extensive and unpublished interview with John M Armleder, and the works of a constellation of more than a hundred artists.
Published following the eponymous exhibition at KANAL-Centre Pompidou, Brussels, in 2020-2021.

Featuring David Adamo, Oren Ambarchi, Carl Andre, Anjan, Fia Backström, Bureau Barbier Bouvet, Massimo Bartolini, Francis Baudevin, Lisa Beck, Giovanna Belossi, Wallace Berman, Daniela Bershan, Thomas Billas & Théa Hallak, Valérie Bodson, Martin Bonnaz, Monica Bonvicini, Gregory Bourrilly, Ludovic Bourrily, Petra Van Brabandt, Olaf Breuning, AA Bronson, Marcel Broodthaers, Chris Burden, Evelien Cammaert, Yaima Carrazana, Valentin Carron, Axel Claes &, Daniel Wagener, Bruce Conner, Isabelle Cornaro, Peggy Lee Cooper, Stéphane Dafflon, Philippe Decrauzat, David Diao, Emilie Ding, Jason Dodge, Tim Etchells, Sylvie Fleury, Christian Floquet, Francesca Gabbiani, The Genevan Heathen, Poul Gernes, John Giorno, Dan Graham, Amy Granat, Piero Golia, Wade Guyton, Fabrice Gygi, Richard Haldrich, Peter Halley, David Helbich, Samah Hijawi, Gregor Hildebrandt, Mette Ingvartsen, Ann Veronica Janssens, Karen Kilimnik, Felix Kindermann, Scott King, Malsy Klasen, Stéphane Kropf, Anita de Laforêt, Alix Lambert, Jean-Paul Lespagnard, Pierre Lefebvre & Nicolas Belayew, Alexandre Lorgnier du Mesnil, Elaine Lustig Cohen, Christian Marclay, :mentalKLINIK, Jérôme Michez, Sarah Minutillo, Rabina Miya, Simon Moretti, Olivier Mosset, Radouan Mriziga, Stephen O'Malley, Amy O'Neill, Virginia Overton, Calixto Neto, Genesis P-Orridge, Laurent Pache, Charlemagne Palestine, Joris Perdieus, Mai-Thu Perret, Jérôme Porsperger, Gerwald Rockenschaub, Ugo Rondinone, Dieter Roth, Estelle Saignes, Alexane Sanchez, Carolee Schneemann, Peter Schuyff, Teresa Sdralevich, Isabelle Sidaine, Haim Steinbach, Nick Steur, Caroline Sury & Ludovic Ameine, Mary Szydlowska, Eric Thielemans, Blair Thurman, John Tremblay, Laetitia Troilo, Pierre Vadi, Xavier Veilhan, Kris Verdonck, Arlette Vermeiren, Parker Williams, Steph Wunderbar, Jordan Wolfson.
One of the most important and admired artists of the last decades of the 20th century and of the 21st, John M Armleder (born 1948 in Geneva) has created multiple and fertile bodies of work spanning all artistic disciplines, from his distinctive Furniture Sculptures to his Fluxus performances within the Écart collective, from his diverse painting series to his drawing practice, from his striking installations and wall paintings to his numerous works created in collaboration with artist friends.
Edited by Yann Chateigné Tytelman.
Texts by John M Armleder, Bernard Blistène, Yann Chateigné Tytelman, Yves Goldstein, Guy Gypens, Anna Loporcaro.

Graphic design: Sunny-side-up.
 
published in October 2023
trilingual edition (English / French / Dutch)
21 x 26 cm (softcover)
246 pages (ill.)
 
49.00
 
ISBN : 979-12-80579-19-5
EAN : 9791280579195
 
in stock
 
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