Published by Walther König, Köln. Foreword by Thomas Köhler. Text by Stefanie Heckmann.
German sculptor, draftsman, action artist, filmmaker and author John Bock (born 1965) explores themes of material corporeality in installations and exhibitions. This volume explores his oeuvre, which draws on processes such as fermentation and decay.
Published by Walther König, Köln. Text by Jens Hoffmann.
With wooden covers and beautiful interior design mimicking a personal sketchbook or exercise book, Klütterkammer documents an exhibition of the same name, held at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, which was conceived by Bock as a fantasy compendium of his artistic affiliations.
This sophisticated artist’s book, with custom-cut cover and partially exposed binding, documents John Bock’s 2006 action, "Maltreated Frigate"--the height as well as the culmination of this rising German artist’s performative work. Here, Bock’s vision comes to life in a multitude of color illustrations composed and collaged by the artist. The libretto, printed in its entirety, explodes in linguistic fireworks and tumbles down the printed page, solid in its earthiness and ready to be constructed into a jumble of bizarre and whimsical neologisms--vivid testimony to the artist’s zest for expression. "Maltreated Frigate" was performed as a spectacle in 10 scenes, a collision course of rock opera, Theater of the Absurd, animated sculpture and puppet show. This raucous volume invites the reader to accompany the artist and his protagonists along their tour-de-force, stream-of-consciousness action. It is a violent ride on a machine from hell, steered by an idiosyncratic inner logic.
Published by Walther König, Köln. Foreword by Max Hollein. Text by Joachim Jäger, Robin Curtis, Massimiliano Gioni.
John Bock, the German sculptor and performance artist, born in 1965, is known for his spectacular, comically grotesque action art, which comments energetically on everything from aesthetics and politics to society and pseudo-science. His work has been compared to the post-war, post-Dada Theater of the Absurd of the 1940s, 50s and 60s--an avant garde movement that attempted to shock its audiences into facing life’s ultimate, bleak reality by creating independent meaning in the face of the apparent, inherent lack thereof. It only makes sense that Bock has increasingly turned towards film in recent years. This special edition artist’s book, with its exposed, sewn binding and enigmatic white cover, provides an overview of Bock’s first short videos alongside his longer narrative films, featuring real actors and sets. Collectively, the film work is considered both technically and aesthetically, from art historical and cinematographic perspectives. Film stills, set photography and texts illustrate the individual works.
Published by Walther König, Köln. Essay by Jens Hoffmann.
The textured, crazy, and highly energetic world of John Bock comes alive in Koppel, which documents 18 of the young artist's surrealist performances from the past two years (10 of them from Documenta 11). Video stills, artist texts, photos, and sketches reveal the humor and found-object curiosity that drives his zany work.
PUBLISHER Walther König, Köln
BOOK FORMAT Paperback, 10.25 x 7.75 in. / 208 pgs / illustrated throughout.
PUBLISHING STATUS Pub Date 5/2/2004 Out of print
DISTRIBUTION D.A.P. Exclusive Catalog: FALL 2004
PRODUCT DETAILS ISBN 9783883757735SDNR30 List Price: $55.00 CAD $65.00
An ascending star on the international art scene, John Bock's stage-like walk-in sculptures--constructed from fabrics and junk--form the backdrop for his lavish semi-theatrical and semi-improvised performances. Referencing everything from rural life to various half-baked philosophies to the Vienna Actionists--a key influence on Bock--Bock's performances blend topic fragments from the sciences, arts and the everyday into a volatile and enthralling mixture. The focus here is on the complex relationships between art and the social and between the social and the individual. Laid out in striking collage fashion, John Bock: Gribbohm traces 12 of Bock's ''lectures''--as he terms his performances--with copious illustrations and text by this artist who attempts to make sense of this world by creating one of his own devising.
John Bock: Klütterkammer
John Bock: Maltreated Frigate
John Bock: Films
John Bock: Koppel
John Bock: Gribbohm