image source: JRP | Ringier

Publisher Note

Besides being one of science fiction's top subjects, immortality is one of humanity’s most debated issues. "They Cannot Die" by Catalan artist Oriol Vilanova (*1980, lives and works in Barcelona) is a possible portrait of how the 20th century dealt with history and fame.

It starts with a fiction written as a theater-essay in which Dalí, Lenin, and Disney enter into a lively argument about immortality in an empty exhibition room, which becomes the fourth voice. Through the discussion of these three icons of mass-culture, empty of any of the spatial or temporal restrictions that so often condition mortals, we are able to reflect on the relations between time and memory.

At the core of this artist's book can be found a facsimile print of a short, 19th-century introductory guide to human taxidermy, along with a visual archive of postcards of museums, which are presented as mausoleums.

Humorous and metaphysical, this publication is part of the series of artists' projects edited by Christoph Keller.

Artists’ Book

They Cannot Die

by Oriol Vilanova

Publisher
Release Place Switzerland
Release Date 2011
ISBN 978-3-03764-246-7
Credits
Artist: Oriol Vilanova
Series Christoph Keller Editions
Work  
Language Spanish, English, Catalan
Format softcover
Dimensions 18.0 × 11.0 cm
Pages 180

last updated 2273 days ago

Data Contributor: Vice Versa

Created by edcat

Edited by edcat