do it

Co-published by Independent Curators International (ICI) and D.A.P. 2013. Softcover. 448 pages. Images: Black-and-white illustrations throughout (all digital). ISBN: 978-1-938922-01-5. OUT OF PRINT

Foreword and acknowledgement by Kate Fowle and Frances Wu Giarratano; Introduction by Hans Ulrich Obrist; Essays by Bruce Altshuler, Hu Fang, Virginia Perez-Ratton, and Elisabeth Presa.

do it began in Paris in 1993 with a discussion between the artists Christian Boltanski and Bertrand Lavier, and curator Hans Ulrich Obrist, who was experimenting with how exhibition formats could be made more flexible and open-ended. The conversation developed into the question of whether a show could be made from “scores” or written instructions by artists, inspired by movements such as fluxus, and which could be openly interpreted every time they were presented. To begin Obrist invited thirteen artists to send instructions, which were then translated into 9 different languages and circulated internationally as a book.

do it: the compendium includes essays contextualizing do it, a collection of artists’ instructions from past editions, and new artists’ instructions commissioned specifically for this book and 20th anniversary exhibition. The most comprehensive do it publication to date, this book shares instructions from 250 artists, 84 of which are newly published.

do it: the compendium is out of print.