An Anecdoted Topography of Chance

This odd but delightful cult classic from the 1960s is one of the most important yet little known artists’ books of the 20th century. It has been published in multiple revised and updated editions, most recently in 1995, but this edition is the “probably definitive re-anecdoted version.” Though the layout and design are complex and daunting at points, the conceit of the project is fairly simple. Artist Spoerri uses the seemingly random contents of a table in his flat in Paris as a topography, examining and numbering every item on the table and providing anecdotes about each—with help from his friends. The contents of the table are treated like a map of contemporary life, or like mosquitoes sealed in amber. Each object—a simple butter knife, a burnt match, a grain of salt—provides an opportunity for these creative minds to ruminate on the past, the present, and the philosophy of everyday life. Like a jazz quartet, the members of the group pick up ideas (on language, on glue, on the book itself) and pull them in unexpected directions. Funny, insightful, and full of whimsy, this treasured book reminds readers of the potential art in everything. Illus. (Apr.)