Lisson Gallery

Art & Language

The activities of Art & Language have been marked from the outset by practical variety, by resistance to easy categorisation and by a tendency to provoke open and reflexive enquiry. Art & Language’s earliest works date from before 1968, when the name was first adopted as the name of an artistic practice. In the following year, the first issue of the journal Art-Language was published in England. Then and over the next few years Art & Language provided a common identity for a number of people already involved in various types of collaboration. The mid 1960s had seen widespread collapse in the authority of those individualistic cultural protocols which go under the name of Modernism, and the coming together of the two terms ‘Art’ and ‘Language’ served to recognise a range of intellectual concerns and artistic expedients which that collapse had occasioned. For a variety of activities which bore practically and critically upon the concept of art, but which were at home neither in the studio nor in the gallery, Art & Language promised a social base in shared conversation. That conversation in turn transformed the practice of those involved and generated other kinds of work.


Experimental and sceptical, perhaps their most famous work is Index 01, exhibited at dOCUMENTA 5, Kassel, Germany (1972), a catalogue of their writings in eight filing cabinets presented on four plinths at eye level. Major solo exhibitions include 'Figure it out who can', Galerie Michael Janssen, Berlin, Germany (2019); ‘Nobody Spoke’, Kunstsaele, Berlin, Germany (2017); Museu d’Art Contemporary de Barcelona (MACBA), Barcelona, Spain (2014); Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, Deurle, Belgium (2013); Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst, Zurich, Switzerland (2012); Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Espoo, Finland (2009); Centro De Arte Contemporáneo (CAC) Málaga, Spain (2004); MoMA PS1, New York, USA (1999); ICA, London, UK (1991); Tate Gallery, London, UK (1985); Musée d’Art Moderne, Toulon, France (1982) and Museum of Modern Art, Oxford, UK (1974). Art & Language have participated in numerous group exhibitions, including 'Guernica' at the National Picasso Museum in Paris, France (2017); 'Conceptual Art in Britain: 1964-1979', Tate Britain, London, UK (2016); ‘Before Normal: Concept After Concept’, Museet for Samtidskunst, Roskkilde, Denmark (2014); ‘Invisible: Art about the Unseen 1957–2012', Hayward Gallery, London, UK (2012); ‘Sound of Music’, Turner Contemporary, Margate, Kent, UK (2009); dOCUMENTA 10, Kassel, Germany (1997), dOCUMENTA 7, Kassel, Germany (1982), the Xème Biennale Internationale d’Art, Palais de L’Europe, Menton, France (1974). In 1986 they were nominated for the Turner Prize. 

 

Recent, current and forthcoming projects

‘Now They Are,’ Jesus College, Cambridge, UK (23 June - 9 Aug 2021)

 

A Shadow on the Tongue IV

Art & Language
A Shadow on the Tongue IV

2019
Indian ink over text on Teslin 168 x 148 cm (overall) 66 1/8 x 58 1/4 in (overall)

A Shadow on the Tongue XIII

Art & Language
A Shadow on the Tongue XIII

2019
Acrylic over text on Teslin 168 x 148 cm (overall) / 66 1/8 x 58 1/4 in (overall)

10 Posters

Art & Language
10 Posters

2018
Portfolio of 10 silkscreen prints on 300 gram Hahnemuhle rag paper
120 x 80 cm (each print)
47 1/8 x 31 1/2 in (each print)

10 Posters

Art & Language
10 Posters

2018
Portfolio of 10 silkscreen prints on 300 gram Hahnemuhle rag paper
120 x 80 cm (each print)
47 1/8 x 31 1/2 in (each print)

10 Posters

Art & Language
10 Posters

2018
Portfolio of 10 silkscreen prints on 300 gram Hahnemuhle rag paper
120 x 80 cm (each print)
47 1/8 x 31 1/2 in (each print)

A Bad Place

Art & Language
A Bad Place

2018
Indian ink on laser printed text on Teslin 250 x 710 cm / 98 3/8 x 279 1/2 in

Now They Are II

Art & Language
Now They Are II

2016
Indian Ink on laser printed text on Teslin 144 SRA3 sheets, each 45 x 31.7 cm overall dimensions variable / 144 SRA3 sheets, each 17 5/8 x 12 3/8 in overall dimensions variable

Have You Ever Seen Me ? I

Art & Language
Have You Ever Seen Me ? I

2016
Acrylic, collage and mixed media on paper 76 x 76 cm / 29 7/8 x 29 7/8 in

Not That it is Needed Now (Oak) VIII

Art & Language
Not That it is Needed Now (Oak) VIII

2015
Oil on paper mounted on aluminium 34 X 34 cm / 13 3/8 x 13 3/8 in

Not That it is Needed Now (Archive) XX

Art & Language
Not That it is Needed Now (Archive) XX

2015
Oil and mixed media on canvas 61 x 61 cm / 24 x 24 in
 

Tell Me, Have You Ever Seen Me? II, Xi Jinping

Art & Language
Tell Me, Have You Ever Seen Me? II, Xi Jinping

2014
Printed text on paper, ink, pencil and mixed media on paper, vitrine 120 x 50 x 50 cm / 47 1/4 x 19 11/16

Tell Me, Have You Ever Seen Me? II, Xi Jinping

Art & Language
Tell Me, Have You Ever Seen Me? II, Xi Jinping

2014
Printed text on paper, ink, pencil and mixed media on paper, vitrine 120 x 50 x 50 cm / 47 1/4 x 19 11/16

Sea Ghost III

Art & Language
Sea Ghost III

2014
Acrylic with ink and mixed media on canvas 176 x 149.5 x 4 cm / 68 3/8 x 59 x 1 3/4 in.

Sea Ghost V

Art & Language
Sea Ghost V

2014
Acrylic with ink and mixed media on canvas 176 x 149.5 x 4 cm / 69 3/8 x 59 x 1 3/4 in.

Nobody Spoke

Art & Language
Nobody Spoke

2013-2014
Installation comprising 17 chairs, alogram on canvas over plywood with acrylic and mixed media 3 ‘chairs’, 101.3 x 35.5 x 48.3 cm; 7 ‘chairs’, 96.7 x 38 x 44.4 cm; 7 ‘chairs’, 92 x 35.5 x 43 cm

Nobody Spoke

Art & Language
Nobody Spoke

2013-2014
Installation comprising 17 chairs, alogram on canvas over plywood with acrylic and mixed media 3 ‘chairs’, 101.3 x 35.5 x 48.3 cm; 7 ‘chairs’, 96.7 x 38 x 44.4 cm; 7 ‘chairs’, 92 x 35.5 x 43 cm

Portraits and a Dream III

Art & Language
Portraits and a Dream III

2013
Printed paper and mixed media, 144 prints on paper, 144 garlands consisting of 16 links 300 x 755 x 830 cm / 118 1/8 x 297 1/4 x 326 3/4 in.

Portrait and a Dream XI

Art & Language
Portrait and a Dream XI

1968-2011
Ink on photostat and mixed media Part 1, 69.0 x 107.0 cm / 27 3/16 x 42 1/8 in. Part 2, 53.0 x 48.0 cm / 20 7/8 x 18 7/8 in.

Portrait and a Dream VII

Art & Language
Portrait and a Dream VII

1981-2011
Ink and crayon on paper and mixed media Part 1-2, 67.0 x 99.3 cm / 26 3/8 x 39 1/16 in. Part 3, 53.0 x 48.0 cm / 20 7/8 x 18 7/8 in.

Portrait and a Dream IX

Art & Language
Portrait and a Dream IX

1966-2011
Ink and acrylic on paper and mixed media Parts 1-2, 81.2 x 62.3 cm / 32 x 24 1/2 in. Part 3, 53.0 x 48.0 cm / 20 7/8 x 18 7/8

Portraits and a Dream

Art & Language
Portraits and a Dream

2009
Printed paper and mixed media Part 1: 144 pages of 32 lines of text each printed on grey A3 paper plus one blank page, arranged in a grid and pasted onto one wall. Part 2: 144 sets of ‘paperchains’ consisting of 16 links, suspended in rows on cables stretched between two walls and running parallel to the wall of text pages.

The Impression of Liars’ Voices

Art & Language
The Impression of Liars’ Voices

2009
Acrylic on canvas and mixed media Framed picture: 97.3 x 72.3 x 3.2 cm / 38 5/16 x 28 7/16 x 1 1/4 in. Chair: 98 x 48.5 x 36 cm / 38 9/16 x 19 1/16 x 14 3/16 in.

Portraits and a Dream

Art & Language
Portraits and a Dream

2009
Printed paper and mixed media Part 1: 144 pages of 32 lines of text each printed on grey A3 paper plus one blank page, arranged in a grid and pasted onto one wall. Part 2: 144 sets of ‘paperchains’ consisting of 16 links, suspended in rows on cables stretched between two walls and running parallel to the wall of text pages.

The Background of a Hostage Incident

Art & Language
The Background of a Hostage Incident

2009
Acrylic on canvas and mixed media Framed picture: 29.3 x 27.9 x 3.2 cm / 11.54 x 11 x 1 1/14 in. Chair: 89.6 x 42.3 x 35 cm / 35 1/4 x 16 5/8 x 13 3/4 in.

Portrait of Vladimir Putin in the Style of Jackson Pollock

Art & Language
Portrait of Vladimir Putin in the Style of Jackson Pollock

2009
Oil and enamel on canvas; pencil on paper Painting: 84.5 x 75 cm / 33 1/4 x 29 1/2 in. Drawing: 25 x 21 cm / 9 13/16 x 8 1/4 in.

Now They Are Again No Secret

Art & Language
Now They Are Again No Secret

2009
Acrylic on canvas and mixed media Framed picture: 50.6 x 61.8 x 3.2 cm 19 15/16 x 24 5/16 x 1 1/4 in. Chair: 100.7 x 47.3 x 39 cm / 39 5/8 x 18 5/8 x 15 3/8 in.

Qui Pourra

Art & Language
Qui Pourra

2008
HD Video 15 min. 36 sec.

No Secret Painting XI

Art & Language
No Secret Painting XI

2007
Painting and text Part 1 (painting): 50.8 x 52.7 mm. Depth 7 cm Part 2 (text): 900 x 67.8 mm. Depth 4.7 cm

Lovely Slang XXII 2004

Art & Language
Lovely Slang XXII 2004

2004
Glass over oil and mixed media on canvas on wood 69 x 60.8 cm / 27 3/16 x 23 15/16 in.

Lovely Slang XXI

Art & Language
Lovely Slang XXI

2004
Glass over oil and mixed media on canvas on wood 82.9 x 70 cm / 32 5/8 x 27 9/16 in.

Homes from Homes, Virus I

Art & Language
Homes from Homes, Virus I

2002
Oil and enamel on canvas and mixed media 98 x 175 cm / 39 9/16 x 68 7/8 in.

Study for Hostage 79

Art & Language
Study for Hostage 79

1991
Acrylic, ink and pencil on paper Framed: 137.8 x 97.9 x 4.8 cm / 54 1/4 x 38 9/16 in.

Hostage LXXIX

Art & Language
Hostage LXXIX

1991
Glass, oil on canvas on wood 214 x 142.5 cm / 84 1/4 x 56 1/8 in.

Hostage LX

Art & Language
Hostage LX

1990
Oil on canvas on wood with glass 214 x 142.5 cm / 84 1/4 x 56 1/8 in.

Portrait of V.I. Lenin in the Style of Jackson Pollock VII

Art & Language
Portrait of V.I. Lenin in the Style of Jackson Pollock VII

1980
Enamel on canvas mounted to board 105 x 100 cm / 41 5/16 x 39 3/8 in.

Exhibitions

  1. Art & Language HOSTAGE

    Art & Language HOSTAGE

    3 March – 16 April 2022

  2. Selected works in London

    Selected works in London

    8 December 2020 – 12 January 2021

  3. Horizon

    Horizon

    6 October – 31 October 2020

  4. Art & Language: Letters to The Jackson Pollock Bar in the Style of The Red Krayola

    Art & Language: Letters to The Jackson Pol...

    24 October 2019

  5. Art & Language – Nobody Spoke

    Art & Language – Nobody Spoke

    14 November 2014 – 17 January 2015

  6. Art & Language: Portraits and a Dream

    Art & Language: Portraits and a Dream

    27 January – 27 February 2010

  7. Art & Language: Hard to Say When

    Art & Language: Hard to Say When

    11 May – 2 June 2005

  8. Art and Language: Mother, Father; Monday

    Art and Language: Mother, Father; Monday

    15 November 2002 – 18 January 2003

  9. Art & Language: Early Works 1965 - 1976, Recent Work 1991 - 1994

    Art & Language: Early Works 1965 - 1976, R...

    3 June – 9 July 1994

  10. Art & Language: Hostages Paintings: The Dark Series

    Art & Language: Hostages Paintings: The Da...

    15 March – 12 April 1991

  11. Art & Language: Hostages

    Art & Language: Hostages

    4 July – 10 September 1988

  12. Art & Language: Sites: Incidents in a Museum The New Paintings: 1986–87

    Art & Language: Sites: Incidents in a Muse...

    30 April – 9 May 1987

  13. Art & Language: Drawings and Models Index: The Studio at 3 Wesley Place V, VI (Illuminated by an Explosion Nearby)

    Art & Language: Drawings and Models Index:...

    9 March – 2 April 1983

  14. Art & Language: Portraits of V.I. Lenin and Others in the Style of Jackson Pollock

    Art & Language: Portraits of V.I. Lenin an...

    7 March – 3 April 1980

  15. Art & Language: Flags for Organizations

    Art & Language: Flags for Organizations

    28 November – 22 December 1978

  16. Art & Language

    Art & Language

    11 February – 8 March 1975

  17. Art & Language

    Art & Language

    1 March – 30 March 1974

  18. Art & Language

    Art & Language

    16 October – 4 November 1973

Shop

  1. Nobody Spoke

    Nobody Spoke

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