Words & Pictures contribution by Jeremy Deller

Words & Pictures - Ultra-Paranoid (Extra-Spatial) Portable Art! was born out of Iain and Jane's interest in fanzines, punk and underground publishing. Hailed by Time Out as 'a new concept in selling and exhibiting', the project was a cross-breed - part magazine, part exhibition and part book, functioning as a vehicle to promote and make accessible the work and ideas of contemporary artists to a wider audience.

In May 1994, Iain and Jane initiated the project with a low-key zero-budget pilot issue. Iain and Jane were yet to collaborate on making work together, this endeavour was the first time they had worked together. They went on to curate and publish a total of 10 issues, working with over 200 artists and writers. Each issue collected together objects made by 20 different artists into an A5 sized cardboard box, produced in a signed limited edition of 100 copies. A printed booklet was included with each issue that contained information about the contributors as well as a specially commissioned preface and introductory text.

The first issue was launched in late 1994 with a special event at the ICA in London - the party-like atmosphere was to become typical of future launch events. Subsequent issues were launched at a diverse range of events and venues, contextually reflecting the diversity that had become inherent in the project and dodging any attempt to pigeon-hole the project. Venues included the Artists' Book Fair at the Royal Festival Hall, the Contemporary Print Show at the Barbican, the Cabinet Gallery in Brixton, the Serpentine Bookshop, and the Eagle Gallery in Farringdon. The project quickly achieved an international reputation for creating a unique and affordable experience in viewing and buying the work of young British artists and writers. Initially sold through major gallery bookshops throughout the UK, the project is now held by several major collections including the Vicotria & Albert Museum and the Tate Gallery in London and the Yale Center for British Art in the USA.

Iain and Jane decided in the early stages that this should be a temporary project, something to start and end within a defined timeframe. Stuck for a better idea, they remembered a comment made by Lawrence from the band Felt, who'd stated he'd make ten albums in ten years then break-up the band. That settled it, Words & Pictures - Ultra-Paranoid (Extra-Spatial) Portable Art! would publish ten complete issues before terminating.

To mark the end of the project, Iain & Jane expanded the final issue to house work by 35 artists and returned to the ICA for a major event, Getting Out Of Our Box. They invited three previous contributors to perform; Tracey Emin made a film of her preface, 'CV' to Issue 4 to be screened on the night (the film is now part of the permanent collection at Tate Modern) and Billy Childish read his preface to Issue 7 (the at-that-point unpublished first chapter from his second novel Notebooks Of A Naked Youth) as well as performing poetry and songs. The event culminated in a now-legendary performance by Momus, the singer/songwriter who provided the preface to Issue 1 and the epilogue to Issue 10.

Invitation to 'Getting Out Of Our Box' - the final party

---

Complete Index of Words & Pictures

Issue 10 / Edition of 100 / Released November 1997
Launched at the ICA, 26th November

Epilogue by Momus 'Ten Extra-Spatial Artists'
Conclusion by Liam Gillick 'The Parallax View'

Multiples by Russell Bamber 'The World of Russell Bamber - Souvenir Camera', Roger Bates 'Double Portrait (Sketch Book)', David Campany 'Self Portrait Falling', JJ Charlesworth 'The Days of Life', Martin Creed 'A sheet of A4 paper crumpled into a ball', Jeremy Deller 'Panic', Ben Dray '(discovered object) reproduction', Nick Dunn and Philip Jones 'VennGo', Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard 'Damaged', Sarah Hardy 'Interior', Matthew Higgs untitled, MH Holmes 'Limited Edition Presentation Corner Plate', Daniel Howard-Birt 'just where it is we're at', Andrew Hunt 'Tiger', Mark Jessett 'Self-Portrait (Coasters)', Tony Kemplen 'e by gum', Magnus Lawrie 'About The Orange Man', Peter Lewis 'Flag', Richard Makin 'from 'Ravine', a novel in progress', Adam J Maynard with the Institute of Open Studies 'Smash The Brain!', Dermot O'Brien 'Fruit de Mer', Kevin O'Neill 'Been There...!', Jane Ormerod 'Horse Card', Simon Periton 'Flashing Blade', Hadrian Pigott 'artist unknown', Giorgio Sadotti 'I want to put the voice back into the body', David Shrigley 'Certificate', Lesley Smailes 'pom pom', Bob and Roberta Smith 'Humiliated Object (The Conker)', Polly Staple 'The Excitement is Unreal', Georgina Starr 'Inside Starvision World', Andre Stitt 'Burnt Ta Fuck', John Timberlake 'destruction', Gavin Turk 'I Killed A Cat', Jessica Voorsanger 'Matthew Collings' Finger Print'

Words & Pictures contribution by Georgina Starr

Issue 9 / Edition of 100 / Released July 1997
Launched at the Eagle Gallery, 3rd October
(launch followed by exhibition)

Foreword by Neil Crawford untitled
Introduction by Neil Crawford untitled

Multiples by Tim Bailey 'Bolan Zombie Balloon', Russell Bamber 'The World of Russell Bamber - Souvenir Self Portrait', Roger Bates 'Foreigner', David Campany 'Standard Stoppage', Imogen Clarke 'Static Time', Alistair Dickson 'Everything I ate from May 26th to June 29th 1997', Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard 'Still ill', Anne Hardy 'Matthew and Kira (from the Urban Stories Series)', Louise Hayward 'Stationary Items', Daniel Howard-Birt 'the bit in the night just before the stars come out', Elisa Hudson 'Petal (Urinal Pastello) 1997', Andrew Hunt 'Clubbed, Sticker Pack', Anne-Marie Lequesne 'Blue', Wayne Lloyd 'Winner Office ™97', Matthew Maxwell 'Going round in circles', Adam J Maynard 'Blood', Anna Mossman 'For your camera', Jane Parrish 'Various Stages of Phwoarr', Tim Smare 'gift of language', Fiona Wright 'Soapstar'

Words & Pictures contribution by Martin Creed

Issue 8 / Edition of 100 / Released March 1997
Launched at the Contemporary Print Show, 17th April

Preface by Angus Fairhurst 'The Wolf's Dinner'
Introduction by Simon Ford 'Eat Yourself Fitter'

Multiples by David Adkins 'Glasses For Superheroes', Becky Beasley 'Catalogue', Nicholas Bolton 'April 17th', Andrea Draper 'Two Faced Madonnas', Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard 'Will Nature Make A Man Of Me Yet?', Christopher Helson 'The Jabberwock', Raymond Henshaw and Paul Gratten 'Northern Irish Twins, D.O.B. 02.01.80 - Childs Play', Andrew Hunt 'Andy Hunt Key Ring', Karen Hurd 'Tea With Madelaide', Samira Kafala untitled, Alan Kane 'small tea', Tony Kemplen 'Sorted', Daniel Kidner 'Somewhere Special', Adam J Maynard 'Geek Central', Kevin O' Neill 'Broken Record', Deb Rindl 'Entanglement', Giorgio Sadotti 'I Would Like To', Melanie Verhille 'Suburban Scenes', Michael Wilson 'if any', Carol Ann Wingrave 'Wet and Dry'

Words & Pictures contribution by Andrew Ekins

Issue 7 / Edition of 100 / Released November 1996
Launched at the New Serpentine Gallery Bookshop, 11th December

Preface by Billy Childish 'Excerpt from 'Note Books of a Naked Youth'
Introduction by Simon Cutts untitled

Multiples by Ingrid Alexandra '100 I'ed Egos', Iris Athanasoula 'CSM Degree Show Card', Robert Bird 'Match-Box', D Breckon 'Transients', Patricia Collins 'My Inheritance', Paul Deller 'A.K.A. Six Pages From My A.K.A. Books 1996', Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard 'Home Taping Is Killing Music', Gill and Grant 'Rip Off', Simon Goodwin 'Stars', Jun Hasegawa 'Upside Down And Inside Out', Andrew Herman 'Loose Change', Daniel A Howard-Birt 'Mini Movie Props: The Shining; Jack's Work', Mark Jessett 'Self-Portrait (Fridge Magnet, 1996)', Richard Makin 'Excerpt', Adam J Maynard 'Life After Tranqualisers', Paul Mcdevitt 'Clock Tower', Stacey Righton 'Who Is The Fairest Of Them All?', Polly Staple 'Flashy Cunt', Virgil Tracy 'An Unmade Work By Bill Viola', Emma Underhill 'No Artificial Colour or Flavour'

Words & Pictures contribution by Jun Hasegawa

Issue 6 / Edition of 100 / Released July 1996
Launched at the Cabinet Gallery, 8th August

Preface by Simon Bill 'Rabbit Droppings'
Introduction by Andrew Wilson untitled

Multiples by Johnny Ape 'Misquotations No. 1', Marc Atkins 'Records of State (The Teratologist)', Badstock Beard Partnership 'Creative Investments', Martin Creed 'Work No. 149', Jeremy Deller '100 Bikes', Nick Dunn and Philip Jones 'Venn and the Art of Lifestyling', Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard 'Jason Rock - The Still Ills', Toby Hardwick 'An audio Ambient venture', Sarah Hardy 'Parting Brooch', J Hayward '100 Meals', Lee Jay Keeper 'Freetime: Scale 125/6', Tony Kemplen 'Homage to Pollock(s) 1856-1956', Colin Lowe / Roddy Thomson 'Don't Put All Yer Stones In One Shoe, Peabrain', Adam J Maynard 'Holiday', Adam McEwen 'This is the rat', Jane Ormerod 'Gift Card', Brendan Quick 'My Very Own Fairy Stories', David Shrigley 'A3 Photocopy', Bridget Smith untitled, David Tonge 'Famous People'

Words & Pictures contribution by Bridget Smith

Issue 5 / Edition of 100 / Released March 1996
Launched at the Contemporary Print Fair, 11th April

Preface by Max Wigram untitled
Introduction by Jake Chapman 'Hyperbollocks Has Me In Stitches'
Issue 5 also includes the preface originally printed in issue 3, reprinted in memory of Joshua Compston

Multiples by Peter Abrahams '950', Roger Bates 'Sweet Delight / Endless Night', Jo Braddock 'Artie Provera and the rich sibling Theo van Gold', Ken Cockburn 'Melon i.m. Robert Burns', Pamela Dunsdon 'I've Been Trying Not To Say I Love You', Andrew Ekins untitled, Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard 'The Gift', Lucas Golding untitled, Toby Hardwick 'Made It', Matthew Higgs untitled, Gabriel Kuri 'Good News', Adam J Maynard 'Yahoo!', John Mitchell 'Happiness is a Warm Gun', Clement Page 'The Double', Carrie Reichardt untitled, Stephen Roden 'Skulduggery', Bob and Roberta Smith 'Numbered Radish', Clare Thompson untitled, Jessica Voorsanger 'Abbey Road', Stef Zelynskyj 'Virus World Party'

Words & Pictures contribution by Hadrian Pigott

Issue 4 / Edition of 100 / Released November 1995
Launched at the London Artists' Book Fair, 9th November

Preface by Tracey Emin 'C.V.'
Introduction by Martin Maloney 'Introduction'

Multiples by Lee Beech 'The Great Detectives', Ben Dray untitled Annabel Elgar 'The Casket', Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard 'The Sadness of Things', Simon Goodwin untitled, M H Holmes 'A Protected Case for Assorted Materials', Neil Jenkins 'Cardboard City', Tony Kemplen 'Bolshevik Keyboard Fingering Chart', Magnus Lawrie 'Happy Birthday Cathy', Dominic Mason untitled, David McConnachie 'References', Marion Michell 'Untitled (Süterlin) 1995', Jane Ormerod 'You Are Right To Be Scared', Deb Rindl untitled, André Stitt 'Big Self', Joanne Tatham 'The Sea', Virgil Tracy 'Folk Songs', Michael Turner 'Momento Belli', Wells and Shaw 'Ephebic Alchemy', Felix Zakar 'A Chymical Cradle'

Words & Pictures contribution by Magnus Lawrie

Issue 3 / Edition of 100 / Released July 1995

Preface by Joshua Compston 'The Fall of Stalingrad 1942/3'
Introduction by Stewart Home 'The Palingenesis of the Avant-Garde'

Multiples by Chris Bingham untitled, Stephen Carter 'First Aid for You and Your Dog', Andrew Ekins 'Sorry, This is Not a Winning Ticket', Sarah Felton untitled, Field Study 'Relic of Bethlehem', Leo Fitzmaurice 'Eight Views of the North West', Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard 'The Farm', Julie A Freeman untitled, Antonia Hirsch 'Phew!', Emily J Jolley 'Iced Gems', Richard Makin untitled, Vlado Martek 'Text', Adam J Maynard 'Mustard', John Mitchell 'Future Imperfect', Vikki Oppenheim 'I Spy With My Little Eye: Blueprint 3.0', Joseph Ortenzi untitled, Clement Page untitled, Vernon Thornton 'The Fine Structure of the Fine Art Rectangle', Simon Warren 'Navy Interceptor Providing Ground Troops with Cover'

Words & Pictures contribution by Gavin Turk

Issue 2 / Edition of 100 / Released March 1995

Preface by Jeremy Millar 'The Box of Samples'
Introduction by Dr. Sarat Maharaj 'Rebus'

Multiples by V Allen 'Field', James Archer 'Life in the Hot Seat!', Patricia Collins 'Lost - Found', Susan C Cutts 'Lost Sole', Stefan Dowsing untitled, Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard 'Just what is it that you want to do?', Bettina Furnee 'Empty Tomb - Empty Womb', Asako Kameyama 'Domestic Acquaintance', Tony Kemplen 'What shape is a piece of string?', John Lambert 'Collaborate!', Richard Makin 'Nigredo', Adam J Maynard untitled, James Newton 'Domestic Disturbance', Martin O'Neill untitled, Stuart Penny untitled, Dominique Rey 'Lonely Hearts', J P Thurlow 'bAbA', Oliver Varney 'Dado', Rupert White untitled, Felix Zakar 'The Zoophagous Patient'

Words & Pictures contribution by Georgio Sadotti

Issue 1 / Edition of 100 / Released November 1994
Launched at the ICA, 28th November

Preface by Momus 'Erratum Slip'
Introduction by Liam Gillick 'Soundbwoy Massacre'

Multiples by Martha Aitchison 'Here Now', James Archer 'I am in love with beauty and shall rejoice in its presence', Stuart Bastick 'Prop', Guy Bigland untitled, A D Bradbury 'Instant Superstar', Rodger Brown 'Lieux de Memoire', Matt Carless untitled, JJ Charlesworth '1.5ml Artist's Vacuum', Patricia Collins 'Reuse Recycle Represent', Simon Collins 'In Seed Time Learn', Tristan Dellaway 'Hog', Royston du Maurier Lebek 'Not Waving but Drowning', Field Study 'The Alchemical Marriage', Iain Forsyth 'Life on your own don't really make you free', Nigel Grimmer 'Belonging', Antonia Hirsch untitled, Matthew Holker untitled, A C Hutchinson untitled, Tony Kemplen 'Victorian Pottery Fragments', Chris Kenny 'The Pocket Book of Phallic Symbols', Christine Kummer untitled, Geraldine Marks 'Artefact - Series No.1', Adam J Maynard 'Teatime', Maedhbhina McCombe 'This is the 21st Century', John Mitchell 'Looking for Adventure that Really Rocks your Boat?', Louise Ockenden untitled, Andrew Payne 'Water Under the Bridge', Ita Plattner 'Portable Triptych', Jane Pollard 'Lesson One', Marija Mojca Pungercar untitled, Rachel Ramirez 'Chrysanthemum', Damon Summersgill 'I've Never Had a Real Friend', Geoff Swann untitled, J P Thurlow 'GenXfuk', Simon Warren untitled

Words & Pictures contribution by Vlado Martek

Pilot Issue / Edition of 50 / Released May 1994

Multiples by James Archer 'I am completely open to love', JJ Charlesworth 'Bookmark', Iain Forsyth 'I Making', M S Gibson 'Surgery', Matthew Holker untitled, Antoinette Indge 'Creepy Crawly Spider Fancier', Yve Kaplan 'Dead Hot / I in this box', James Newton 'Badge', Jane Pollard 'Its a Rich Man's World', E Potts untitled, Marie-Lise Sheppard 'Solitaire', J P Thurlow 'Yagnovacon', Brennan Young 'The Seven Orders of Cosmic Love', Iain Forsyth 'Your Fiction Destroys the Authority of Truth'

Each copy of Words and Pictures is edition hand numbered and, in most cases, each multiple is signed and numbered by the artist

---

Words & Pictures Issue 7 launch at Serpentine Bookshop with Billy Childish

 

Words & Pictures
Ultra-Paranoid (Extra-Spatial) Portable Art!

Published and curated by Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard
May 1994 - November 1997

 

Where to now? ----------------------- About Iain and Jane ----------------------- Box Clever ----------------------- Damaged ----------------------- Contact Links Work -----------------------

 

back to the top