Section 31, Set 22

[16] leaves, printed on rectos only. 8vo, printed white softcover, title on spine. New York: Self-published; Bern: Kunsthalle Bern, 1984. Uncommon artist’s book by Conceptual artist Ian Wilson (1940-2020); from an edition of 500 copies. "Wilson has also produced a number of artist books, each simply titled Section followed by a number. The word ‘section’ reminds me of how nations organize their constitutions according to ‘acts’ and ‘sections.’ […] Linguistically, a section also always implies a pre-existing whole. A section can only be derived from a whole. Chapters have a different connotation in that they are like building blocks toward a whole. After all, a chapter can be incomplete while a section is always complete to the extent that it is a section. As such, naming his artist’s books Section followed by a number is homologically related to Buddhist or Hindu sutras, collections of canonical texts that were then assembled into a book of teachings."–Ken Lum, "Ian Wilson: From Chalk Circle to Full Circle" in Everything is Relevant, Writings on Art and Life, 1991-2018 (2020), p. 241. Section 31, Set 22: "Known and / unknown as / known and / unknown that / which is / known and / unknown is / not known / and unknown…Known and / unknown as / known and / unknown that / which is / not known / and unknown / is known and unknown…" In fine condition. ? Ian Wilson: The Discussions (2008), p. 173.…