Living Arts Vol 1-3 (Complete Set)

Theo Crosby and John Bodley (Eds.). William Turnbull, Richard Smith, Cornelius Cardew, Lawrence Alkloway, Carl Nesjar, Robert Freeman, David Sylvester, Peter Startup, Richard Hamilton, Peter Cook, Dennis Compton, Ben Fether, David Greene, Ron Herron, Peter Taylor, Michael Webb, Geoffrey Gale, Bernard Cohen, Gillo Dorfles, Roy Fisher et al.

Published by Institute of Contemporary Arts (Design Gordon House), London, 1963

About this Item

Book. Rare complete run of Living Arts Magazine (3 issues published 1963-4),edited by Theo Crosby and John Bodley. Black & white printed in glossy wraps. Crosby associated himself with ICA in the early 60s and in 1963, under Croby's lead, the ICA exhibited Living Cities, to foreground the urban theories of the young Archigram group. The magazine therefore becomes an intrinsic part of the new international vision set out by Crosby and others, overlapping with other landmark publications of the era/movewment such as This Is Tomorrow, and Archigram. Autumn '60 for Ochestra by Cornelius Cardew, Photographs by Robert Freeman and Letter from the Airport by Carl Nesjar feature in Volume 1. Volume 2 includes : Sculptures and Statement by Peter Startup, Urbane Image by Richard Hamilton and Living City by Peter Cook, Dennis Compton et al. Volume 3 includes THe Allegorical Situation by Bernard Cohen, David Sylvester interviewing David Smith, Communication and Symbolic Value by Gillo Dorfles, THe Atavism of the Short-Distance Minicyclist by Reyner Banham and review of Living City by Robert Maxwell. The 50 page Living City section of Volume 2 includes THE EXHIBITION - EXPERIENCE 19 JUNE - 2 AUGUST 1963 described and expanded by it's designers, with Manifesto, Introduction & ket to the numerous pages of illustrations, design and texts. Amongst the many contributions are THE KEY TO THE VITALITY OF THE CITY by Peter Cook, CITY SYNTHESIS by Dennis Crompton, Total Exhibition Structure, MOVEMENT GLOOP, and FINAL NOTES ON THE LIVING CITY. Condition - the plastic cover tends to bubble. A fault uniform in all copies (& apparent in all 9 copies of issue 2 exhibited in Tate Modern Hamilton retrospective, 2014). These copies have some of that bubble effect but are the best I have seen with only a little near spine. Each rubber stamped neatly on colophon page "Michael Farr (Design Integration) 97 Jerymn Street London " (a prestigious London design company). Slight wear to issue 1 cover. General minor handling. Copies are prone to curling of covers due to plastic overlay, but being housed in a homemade cardboard slipcase these copies are better than usual. Minor rubbing to colophon pages (from inside flap printed image). Very difficult to find a set in this kind of condition. VG++/ near fine. Seller Inventory # 000764

Bibliographic Details

Title: Living Arts Vol 1-3 (Complete Set)

Publisher: Institute of Contemporary Arts (Design Gordon House), London

Publication Date: 1963

Binding: Paperback

Condition: Near Fine

Edition: 1st Edition.