BOOKS

Although the form, content, and provisions for making books have varied widely during their long history, some constant characteristics may be identified. The most obvious is that a book is designed to serve as an instrument of communication—the purpose of such diverse forms as the Babylonian clay tablet, the Egyptian papyrus roll, the medieval vellum or parchment codex, the printed paper codex (most familiar in modern times), microfilm, and various other media and combinations. The second characteristic of the book is its use of writing or some other system of visual symbols (such as pictures or musical notation) to convey meaning. A third distinguishing feature is publication for tangible circulation. A temple column with a message carved on it is not a book nor is a sign or placard, which, though it may be easy enough to transport, is made to attract the eye of the passerby from a fixed location. –Encyclopædia Britannica.-

In 2018 has been published Narraciones simples (Simple Narratives), a book in Spanish with 33 short stories, but which we’re referring here due the first edition includes 33 images made with the technique that Charif calls analogital. The book is available in paper and digital versions via Amazon (here). (Note: more about that technique in the item analogitals, into the fine arts section.

Among the books and catalogues by and about Charif, we select here only the essentials (like Dos Cartas, Two Letters, the artist’s book with Fernando Arrabal and Milan Kundera, or like Profane Alchemy, catalogue-book that include his Incarnated Manifesto). Catalogues of groupal exhibitions are excluded here, such as Kaléidoscopies (organized in 2000 by the MAHB, Museum of Art and History Baron Gérard, Bayeux, France, with artists like Camacho, Dalí, Godard, Miotte, Sempé, Olivier O. Olivier and writers like Michel Butor and Michel Houellebecq) or La real irrealidad (The Unreality Real, organized in 2001 by the Fondo Nacional de las Artes -National Endowment for the Arts-, Argentina, at the international fair arteBa, in a selection that included Xul Solar, Batlle Planas and Jorge de la Vega among other Argentine masters). Nor are included the several catalogues from international art fairs.

Please, click on thumbnails to enlarge

Cover of “Los primeros civilizados del salvaje Oeste de las Pampas” (“The Firsts Civilized People of the Wild West of the Pampas”). Artist book, unique copy. Paris, April-May, 2000. Private collection (París, Francia).
“La madre original de todas las madres” (“The Original Mother of All Mothers”). From the artist-book “Los primeros civilizados del salvaje Oeste de las Pampas” (“The Firsts Civilized People of the Wild West of the Pampas”). Paris, April-May, 2000. Private collection.
Book cover of “Dos cartas”. Note: In 2002 Fernando Arrabal plans an artist book with his friend Milan Kundera and both writers invites Gustavo Charif to make the images. This book, called “Dos cartas” (Two Letters), was conceived as a limited edition with a very few copies (Menú Publishers, Cuenca, Spain) and exhibited for the first time in “Alexandria”, the solo exhibition of Charif organized by the Centro Cultural Borges in 2004.
From “Dos cartas”. Texts by Milan Kundera and Fernando Arrabal, with images by Gustavo Charif.
(Detail.) From “Dos cartas”. Texts by Milan Kundera and Fernando Arrabal, with images by Gustavo Charif.
(Detail.) From “Dos cartas”. Texts by Milan Kundera and Fernando Arrabal, with images by Gustavo Charif.
(Detail.) From “Dos cartas”. Texts by Milan Kundera and Fernando Arrabal, with images by Gustavo Charif.
“Arrabal de juegos arrabales”. Page from “Dos cartas”. Texts by Milan Kundera and Fernando Arrabal, with images by Gustavo Charif.
(Detail.) “Arrabal de juegos arrabales”. From “Dos cartas”. Texts by Milan Kundera and Fernando Arrabal, with images by Gustavo Charif.
(Detail.) “Arrabal de juegos arrabales”. From “Dos cartas”. Texts by Milan Kundera and Fernando Arrabal, with images by Gustavo Charif.
(Detail.) “Arrabal de juegos arrabales”. From “Dos cartas”. Texts by Milan Kundera and Fernando Arrabal, with images by Gustavo Charif.
(Detail.) “Arrabal de juegos arrabales”. From “Dos cartas”. Texts by Milan Kundera and Fernando Arrabal, with images by Gustavo Charif.
“Recuperación de la Milan Biblioteca milenaria”. Page from “Dos cartas”. Texts by Milan Kundera and Fernando Arrabal, with images by Gustavo Charif.
(Detail.) “Recuperación de la Milan Biblioteca milenaria”. From “Dos cartas”. Texts by Milan Kundera and Fernando Arrabal, with images by Gustavo Charif.
(Detail.) “Recuperación de la Milan Biblioteca milenaria”. From “Dos cartas”. Texts by Milan Kundera and Fernando Arrabal, with images by Gustavo Charif.
(Detail.) “Recuperación de la Milan Biblioteca milenaria”. From “Dos cartas”. Texts by Milan Kundera and Fernando Arrabal, with images by Gustavo Charif.
“Ex Libris”. Page from “Dos cartas”. Texts by Milan Kundera and Fernando Arrabal, with images by Gustavo Charif.
(Detail.) “Ex Libris”. Page from “Dos cartas”. Texts by Milan Kundera and Fernando Arrabal, with images by Gustavo Charif.
(Detail.) “Ex Libris”. Page from “Dos cartas”. Texts by Milan Kundera and Fernando Arrabal, with images by Gustavo Charif.
(Detail.) “Ex Libris”. Page from “Dos cartas”. Texts by Milan Kundera and Fernando Arrabal, with images by Gustavo Charif.
The book “Dos cartas” exhibited at the Centro Cultural Borges (2004). Texts by Milan Kundera and Fernando Arrabal, with images by Gustavo Charif.
The book “Dos cartas” exhibited at the Centro Cultural Borges (2004). Texts by Milan Kundera and Fernando Arrabal, with images by Gustavo Charif.
The book “Dos cartas” exhibited at the Centro Cultural Borges (2004). Texts by Milan Kundera and Fernando Arrabal, with images by Gustavo Charif.
“Alquimia Profana” (Profane Alchemy, 2002). Texts by Fernando Arrabal (“Dialogue de Fernando Arrabal avec Satan”), Milan Kundera (letter to Gustavo Charif), Guillermo Whitelow (“Charif, exaltation of the Reverie) and Gustavo Charif (“Incarnated Manifesto”). Ed. Nexos, Buenos Aires-New York, 120 pages. First edition of five thousand copies.
Cover of the “Libro Alejandrino” (“Alexandrine Book, Buenos Aires, 2004). Artist book with 14 images inspired by 14 ancient Arab writings.
From the “Libro Alejandrino” (“Alexandrine Book, Buenos Aires, 2004). Artist book with 14 images inspired by 14 ancient Arab writings.
From the “Libro Alejandrino” (“Alexandrine Book, Buenos Aires, 2004). Artist book with 14 images inspired by 14 ancient Arab writings.
From the “Libro Alejandrino” (“Alexandrine Book, Buenos Aires, 2004). Artist book with 14 images inspired by 14 ancient Arab writings.
From the “Libro Alejandrino” (“Alexandrine Book, Buenos Aires, 2004). Artist book with 14 images inspired by 14 ancient Arab writings.
“Alexandria” (2004). Catalogue-box. 60 pages in colour, with a preface by Corinne Sacca-Abadi. First edition with ten thousand copies.
“Libro de Gastón” (Gastón’s Book, May 2008). Artist book (unique copy). Private collection.
“Arrabal 80”. Book as a tribute to Fernando Arrabal in his 80 birthday (Raúl Herrero editor and Libros del Innombrable, Spain, 2012). Texts about Arrabal by Samuel Beckett, Milan Kundera, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Luce Moreau-Arrabal, Eugène Ionesco, Michel Houellebecq and Gustavo Charif, among others.
Page by Charif for “Arrabal 80”. (Text, “Ilustración” available in Spanish the LitBlog gustavocharif.tumblr.com). Book as a tribute to Fernando Arrabal in his 80 birthday (Raúl Herrero editor and Libros del Innombrable, Spain, 2012). Texts about Arrabal by Samuel Beckett, Milan Kundera, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Luce Moreau-Arrabal, Eugène Ionesco, Michel Houellebecq and Gustavo Charif, among others.
Catalogue-book of Art Expo Malaysia 2012, internacional art fair in which Charif represented Argentina (Kuala Lumpur, September 2012).
Catalogue-book of the auction of Asian artists in Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers, in which Charif was the only non-Asian artist (Kuala Lumpur, October 2012).
Catalogue-book of the Guandu Nature Art Festival, Taiwan, 2016/2017.
Catalogue-book of the Guandu Nature Art Festival, Taiwan, 2016/2017.
Back-cover and cover of “Narraciones simples” (Simple Narratives, 2018).
From “Narraciones simples” (Simple Narratives, 2018).
From “Narraciones simples” (Simple Narratives, 2018).
From “Narraciones simples” (Simple Narratives, 2018).
From “Narraciones simples” (Simple Narratives, 2018).
From “Narraciones simples” (Simple Narratives, 2018).
From “Narraciones simples” (Simple Narratives, 2018).
From “Narraciones simples” (Simple Narratives, 2018).

 

More clicking in books and in Dos cartas.
To see a preview or buy the book Narraciones simples via Amazon (available in paper and digital versions), please click here.

back to top

 

back to top

Advertisement