Cerith Wyn Evans Livres

Photography is a daily activity for Wyn Evans, yet this publication is the first to focus solely on this element of his practice, revealing a selection of previously unpublished photographs and giving an insight into the places, people and things that capture his imagination. These images function variously as aides-memoires, source material, archives and inspiration. Accompanying the images in this book are two extraordinary texts in a separate booklet: a poetic and playful response to Wyn Evans’ photographs by philosopher and poet Hélène Cixous; and an Abécédaire co-written by Wyn Evans and philosopher Alexander García Düttmann, inspired by the idiosyncratic alphabets of Gilles Deleuze and French performer Amanda Lear.

Cerith Wyn Evans engages in candid discussions with Hans Ulrich Obrist about his journey as a video and filmmaker, starting with his role as an assistant to Derek Jarman and evolving into creating experimental films in the 1980s. Since the 1990s, his work has emphasized language and perception, characterized by conceptual clarity often rooted in the context of exhibition sites and their histories. Evans believes installations should act as catalysts, offering a reservoir of meanings that can lead to various interpretive paths. His refined aesthetic is deeply influenced by film history and literature. Obrist conducted multiple interviews with Evans from 2002 to 2009 across France, England, and Belgium, focusing on both past and contemporary works, including his neon and Morse code projects, as well as his fascination with Japan and its culture. Evans discusses his artistic processes and a fundamental idea of his work: the clarity or ambiguity of signals and language. He also reflects on his mentors and significant artists in his life. One interview features his former teacher, Peter Gidal, who had a profound impact on him. Another takes place at the home of Alain Robbe-Grillet, whose films Evans has studied extensively. The conversations culminate in a visit to a James Lee Byars retrospective, showcasing a comprehensive portrait of this multifaceted artist.