Stephen Cripps : performing machines - Cripps, Stephen, -1982; Reimann, Sandra Beate; Museum Jean Tinguely Basel (Vienna : VfmK Verlag für moderne Kunst, 2017)
The oeuvre of British artist, Stephen Cripps (1952-1982) was highly innovative and experimental. His works developed out of an interest for kinetic sculpture and machines as well as from a fascination for the poetic potential of explosion and destruction. Until his early death, Cripps built machines and interactive installations and realised pyrotechnical performances. He developed many of his projects through the mediums of drawing and collage. This timely publication turns the spotlight on the trans-media character and multi-sensory quality of Cripps' oeuvre, particularly through its focus on the artist's drawings. Through its combination of works on paper, audio material, film and documentary media, 'Performing Machines' sets out to showcase the hybrid quality of Cripps's performative praxis. Drawings and sound recordings, the visual and the acoustic, thus complement each other in a feast for both eyes and ears. He staged performances in the UK, Europe and the United States; exhibited at Serpentine Gallery, London (1975), and had three solo exhibitions at The Acme Gallery, London (1978, 1980 and 1981). From 1974 onward, Cripps designed sets for two theatre productions by Stephen Berkoff. He often collaborated with musicians: one notable example is the 1979 pyrotechnic performance at the Museum of Modern Art, Oxford, created with percussionist, Paul Burwell.
Essays. Stephen Cripps' performing machines / Sandra Beate Reimann ; Four provocations on the experience of fire for Stephen Cripps / Lisa Le Feuvre ; Stephen Cripps : exploding practice inevitable / David Toop ; A pyrotechnics of the mind : the performances of Stephen Cripps in context / Dominic Johnson ; A consideration of Stephen Cripps' drawings and their relationship to his performances / Jeni Walwin -- Documents. Interview on 29 March 1976 / Paul Burwell and Stephen Cripps ; Cripps at the Acme and Cripps at Farnham Art College / Ally Raftery ; Interview on 29 July 1981 / Stephen Cripps ; Cripps at Corsham : a gallery discussion / Henry Moore Institute.
This book is published on the occasion of the exhibition held at Museum Tinguely, Basel, January 27-May 1, 2017.
With essays by Sandra Beate Reimann and others and interviews with the artist.
Includes bibliographical references (page 185).
Keywords: Cripps, Stephen, -- -1982 -- Exhibitions; Cripps, Stephen, -- -1982 -- Interviews; Performance art -- England -- 20th century -- Exhibitions; Installations (Art) -- England -- 20th century -- Exhibitions; Cripps, Stephen, -- -1982; Installations (Art); Performance art; England; 1900-1999; Exhibition catalogs; Interviews; Interviews