Discussion, 10th of July 1970
Ian Wilson
British, born South Africa. 1940–2020
1970
A set of seven photocopied, typed sheets reproducing a July 10, 1970 discussion in which Ian Wilson presents oral communication itself as a work of art.
You first notice the dense, machine‑typed dialogue (marked B: and W:) on yellow graph paper, its toner smudges, fold line and punched holes making the sheet feel like an urgent, everyday transcript turned into an art object.
The piece captures a key move in conceptual art — privileging language, process, and reproducible documentation over unique objects and using cheap photocopying to make ephemeral performance into a circulating artwork.
Medium
Photocopy on seven sheets
Dimensions
Each: 11 13/16 x 8 1/4" (30 x 21 cm)
Classification
Department
Credit
Partial gift of the Daled Collection and partial purchase through the generosity of Maja Oeri and Hans Bodenmann, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, Agnes Gund, Marlene Hess and James D. Zirin, Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis, and Jerry I. Speyer and Katherine G. Farley
Accession
752.2011.a-g
Palette
Art Terms
Exhibitions
