RARE Handing The Loaded Revolver To The Enemy artist book/exhibition catalogue

L-13 Rejects and Rarities Dept

A handmade book made for an exhibition of paintings in homage to Vincent van Gogh.

When we first started working with Billy he complained that he was always being told (as a criticism) that his paintings were too much like Vincent van Gogh's, so he thought it would be entertaining to paint a load of 'Old Vinces' paintings and show them in an exhibition called Handing the Loaded Revolver to the Enemy. And we were only too happy to help.

Billy made about 30 great versions of van Gogh paintings and a few he should have painted like a portrait of his brother Theo and some versions of Delacroix paintings. We exhibited these at the aquarium in July 2004. A review of the exhibition can be read in The Guardian HERE.

This book was the first artist book we made with Billy, all printed, cut, torn and compiled at the gallery, then sent off to an obliging bindery in Stirling Scotland who would use whatever material we provided them with to bind our books without too much complaint. In this case some very heavy canvas.

The book contains photos of all the paintings in the exhibition pigment printed on heavy stock and several text pieces by Billy on a lighter paper.

Approx 15 x 15 cm
Edition of 100 copies signed and numbered by the artist with a V for Victory painted on the front cover and a 'Deaths Head Moth' woodcut on newsprint (also signed and dated) tipped in on the front endpaper.

This copy is number 16 of 100.

See also the painting Bible and Candle from the exhibition in the L-13 Rejects and Rarities Dept