Bruce Nauman: Prints, Books, and Ephemera

A work on paper by Bruce Nauman, titled TV Clown, dated 1988

Bruce Nauman: Prints, Books, and Ephemera

David Zwirner is pleased to present a selection of prints, books, and ephemera by Bruce Nauman that illustrates his ceaseless innovation. Encompassing three decades of the artist’s multifaceted practice, from 1969 to 1995, the works include rare publications, video, postcards, and portfolios, as well as lithographs, drypoints, and etchings. For Nauman, printmaking has long been an important mode for exploring language and material as it offers, according to the artist, a “directness,” while also “allowing the technique to be a buffer between me and the image” and providing “a sense of ritualizing the image.” A major survey, Bruce Nauman: Disappearing Acts, was on view at The Museum of Modern Art and MoMA PS1 in New York.

This selection encompasses collaborations with renowned printers and publishers including Gemini G.E.L., Cirrus Editions, Arber & Son Editions, and Brooke Alexander Editions; contributions to seminal artists’ books and portfolios such as Phil Weidman’s 1969 Slant Step Book and William Copley’s S.M.S. (Shit Must Stop) No. 5 (1968); and totems of Nauman’s career, including the seminal Pay Attention (1973) and irreverent Clown Taking a Shit (1988), which references his iconic multi-channel video installation Clown Torture (1987) where the artist explores the dynamics of humor and horror through the figure of the clown.

The Viewing Room also highlights the spirit of experimentation that is central to Nauman’s engagement with artistic identity and routine. “When I think about doing art, I think about it as an investigation of the function of an artist, or the function of myself as an artist,” Nauman explained in 1989. “Each piece of work is a result of what I do in the studio every day, year by year.”

Image: Bruce Nauman, TV Clown (detail), 1988

© 2018 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Bruce Nauman, as quoted in Christopher Cordes, “Talking with Bruce Nauman: An Interview” (1989), in Bruce Nauman: Prints 1970–89. A Catalogue Raisonné (New York: Castelli Graphics, 1989), p. 22. Ibid., p. 34.

Inquire about works from this Past Viewing Room

A lithograph by Bruce Nauman titled Normal Desires, dated 1973

Bruce Nauman

Normal Desires, 1973
Lithograph on Copperplate Deluxe paper
Image: 21 3/4 x 30 inches (55.2 x 76.2 cm) Sheet: 24 3/8 x 35 3/8 inches (61.9 x 89.9 cm) Framed: 26 1/2 x 37 5/8 inches (67.3 x 95.6 cm)
A lithograph by Bruce Nauman titled Doe Fawn, dated 1973

Bruce Nauman

Doe Fawn, 1973
Lithograph on Roll Rives paper
Image: 30 × 43 inches (76.2 × 109.2 cm) Sheet: 32 × 44 7/8 inches (81.3 × 114 cm) Framed: 34 × 46 7/8 × 2 inches (86.4 × 119.1 × 5.1 cm)
A video by Bruce Nauman titled Violent Incident (Man/Woman Segment), dated 1986

Bruce Nauman

Violent Incident (Man/Woman Segment), 1986
Videotape, color, sound, 30 min.

“I think the point where language starts to break down as a useful tool for communication is the same edge where poetry or art occurs.”

 

 

—Bruce Nauman, as quoted in Christopher Cordes, “Talking with Bruce Nauman: An Interview,” (1989), in Bruce Nauman: Prints 1970–89. A Catalogue Raisonné

A still from a video by Bruce Nauman, titled Violent Incident (Man/Woman Segment), dated 1986.
A still from a video by Bruce Nauman, titled Violent Incident (Man/Woman Segment), dated 1986.
A still from a video by Bruce Nauman, titled Violent Incident (Man/Woman Segment), dated 1986.

Bruce Nauman

Human Companionship, Human Drain, 1981
Lithograph on Rives BFK white paper
Image: 30 x 22 inches (76.2 x 55.9 cm) Sheet: 30 x 22 inches (76.2 x 55.9 cm) Framed: 40 x 31 5/8 inches (101.6 x 80.3 cm)
naubr0093.66_0

Bruce Nauman

Malice, 1980
Lithograph on Rives BFK paper
Image: 24 1/4 × 38 inches (61.6 × 96.5 cm) Sheet: 29 3/4 × 41 inches (75.6 × 104.1 cm)
A screenprint by Bruce Nauman titled Studies for Holograms (d), dated 1970

Bruce Nauman

Studies for Holograms (d), 1970
Screenprint on 100 lb. Kromekote paper
26 × 26 inches (66 × 66 cm)

“The idea of making faces had to do with thinking about the body as something you can manipulate.”

 

 

—Bruce Nauman, as quoted in Christopher Cordes, “Talking with Bruce Nauman: An Interview,” (1989), in Bruce Nauman: Prints 1970–89. A Catalogue Raisonné

A lithograph by Bruce Nauman titled Double Face, dated 1981

Bruce Nauman

Double Face, 1981
Lithograph on Arches Cover paper
Image: 24 × 34 inches (61 × 86.4 cm) Sheet: 26 × 36 inches (66 × 91.4 cm) Framed: 27 3/4 × 37 3/4 inches (70.5 × 95.9 cm)
A lithograph by Bruce Nauman titled  Pearl Masque, dated 1981

Bruce Nauman

Pearl Masque, 1981
Lithograph on Arches 88 paper
28 1/2 × 37 1/2 inches (72.4 × 95.3 cm)
A detail of a print by Bruce Nauman, titled Raw War, dated 1971.
A lithograph by Bruce Nauman titled Raw-War, dated 1971

Bruce Nauman

Raw-War, 1971
Lithograph on white Arches paper
22 1/4 × 28 1/4 inches (56.5 × 71.8 cm)

“I do a lot of word transpositions in everyday conversation. Sometimes, when they have strong poetic associations and I really feel them, I stick with them and get used to them.”

 

 

—Bruce Nauman, as quoted in Christopher Cordes, “Talking with Bruce Nauman: An Interview,” (1989), in Bruce Nauman: Prints 1970–89. A Catalogue Raisonné

 

“Most of the word pieces were produced during a period when I was doing a lot of writing; the print medium seemed the most reasonable way to get them out.”

 

 

—Bruce Nauman, as quoted in Christopher Cordes, “Talking with Bruce Nauman: An Interview,” (1989), in Bruce Nauman: Prints 1970–89. A Catalogue Raisonné

A lithograph by Bruce Nauman titled Pay Attention, dated 1973

Bruce Nauman

Pay Attention, 1973
Lithograph on Arjomari paper
Sheet: 38 1/4 × 28 1/4 inches (97.2 × 71.8 cm)
A work on paper by Bruce Nauman titled Untitled (Hands), dated 1990-1991

Bruce Nauman

Untitled (Hands), 1990-1991
Drypoint with aquatint on paper
16 3/4 × 19 1/2 inches (42.5 × 49.5 cm)
An untitled work on paper by Bruce Nauman dated 1990-1991

Bruce Nauman

Untitled, 1990-1991
Drypoint with aquatint on paper
16 3/4 × 19 1/2 inches (42.5 × 49.5 cm)
A sculpture by Bruce Nauman, titled Carousel (Stainless steel version), dated 1988,
Image courtesy Glenstone Museum, Potomac, MD © 2018 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Image courtesy Glenstone Museum, Potomac, MD © 2018 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
A work on paper by Bruce Nauman titled Large Carousel, dated 1988

Bruce Nauman

Large Carousel, 1988
Drypoint on Somerset Satin paper
34 × 40 inches (86.4 × 101.6 cm)
A work on paper by Bruce Nauman titled Learned Helplessness In Rats, dated 1988

Bruce Nauman

Learned Helplessness in Rats, 1988
Hard-ground etching on Somerset Satin paper
15 1/2 × 18 inches (39.4 × 45.7 cm)

Bruce Nauman

Untitled, 1989-1990
Hard-ground etching on paper
Image: 11 × 13 7/8 inches (27.9 × 35.2 cm) Sheet: 16 5/8 × 19 1/4 inches (42.2 × 48.9 cm)
An untitled work on paper by Bruce Nauman dated 1989-1990

Bruce Nauman

Untitled, 1989-1990
Hard-ground etching on paper
Image: 11 × 14 inches (27.9 × 35.6 cm) Sheet: 16 5/8 × 19 1/4 inches (42.2 × 48.9 cm)
An untitled work on paper by Bruce Nauman dated 1989-1990

Bruce Nauman

Untitled, 1989-1990
Hard-ground etching on paper
Image: 11 × 13 7/8 inches (27.9 × 35.2 cm) Sheet: 16 5/8 × 19 1/4 inches (42.2 × 48.9 cm)
An untitled work on paper by Bruce Nauman dated 1989-1990

Bruce Nauman

Untitled, 1989-1990
Hard-ground etching on paper
Image: 14 × 11 inches (35.6 × 27.9 cm) Sheet: 19 1/4 × 16 5/8 inches (48.9 × 42.2 cm)
An untitled work on paper by Bruce Nauman dated 1989-1990

Bruce Nauman

Untitled, 1989-1990
Hard-ground etching on paper
Image: 10 3/4 x 13 3/4 inches (27.3 x 34.9 cm) Sheet: 16 5/8 x 19 1/4 inches (42.2 x 48.9 cm)
An untitled work on paper by Bruce Nauman dated 1989-1990

Bruce Nauman

Untitled, 1989-1990
Drypoint on paper
Image: 10 3/4 × 13 3/4 inches (27.3 × 34.9 cm) Sheet: 16 5/8 × 19 1/4 inches (42.2 × 48.9 cm)
A detail of a print by Bruce Nauman, titled Clown Taking a Shit, dated 1988.
naubr0112.25_0

Bruce Nauman

Clown Taking a Shit, 1988
Lithograph on Transpagra paper
Image: 38 × 27 3/4 inches (96.5 × 70.5 cm) Sheet: 43 7/8 × 29 7/8 inches (111.4 × 75.9 cm) Framed: 44 1/4 × 32 1/4 inches (112.4 × 81.9 cm)

“When I work on drawings outside of printmaking they are not so much about themselves—their point is to explain how a piece functions. When the explanation is clear, then I am finished making the drawing. But in the prints, I confront what the drawing is supposed to be more often. It is a more complex investigation somehow, and is probably as close as I get anymore to thinking about how paintings should be made.”

 

 

—Bruce Nauman, as quoted in Christopher Cordes, “Talking with Bruce Nauman: An Interview,” (1989), in Bruce Nauman: Prints 1970–89. A Catalogue Raisonné

“Art ought to have a moral value, a moral stance, a position.”

 

—Bruce Nauman, as quoted in Joan Simon, “Breaking the Silence: An Interview with Bruce Nauman” (1988), in Please Pay Attention Please: Bruce Nauman’s Words

 

A work on paper by Bruce Nauman, titled TV Clown, dated 1988

Bruce Nauman

TV Clown, 1988
Lithograph on Transpagra paper
Image: 27 1/2 × 41 1/2 inches (69.9 × 105.4 cm) Sheet: 29 3/4 × 43 7/8 inches (75.6 × 111.4 cm) Framed: 32 1/2 × 46 1/4 inches (82.6 × 117.5 cm)
A detail of a postcard by Bruce Nauman, titled ON ON ON ON slash NO NO NO, dated 1995.
A photo postcard by Bruce Nauman titled ON ON ON ON / NO NO NO, dated 1995

Bruce Nauman

ON ON ON ON / NO NO NO, 1995
Lenticular photo-postcard
3 1/2 × 5 1/2 inches (8.8 × 14 cm)

William Copley

S.M.S. (Shit Must Stop), No. 5 (October 1968)
Periodical with non-standard binding, offset-printed, loose leaves, slipcase, black-and-white and color
11 × 7 1/8 inches (28 × 18 cm)

Phil Weidman

Slant Step Book, 1969
Artist's book with pictorial wrappers, offset-printed, glue bound, black-and-white, 36 pp.
8 7/8 × 5 7/8 inches (22.5 × 15.1 cm)
A periodical by Interfunktionen titled No. 6, dated September 1971

Interfunktionen

No. 7, September 1971
Periodical with pictorial wrappers, offset-printed, glue bound, black-and-white, 95 pp.
11 5/8 × 8 1/4 inches (29.5 × 21 cm)
A book by Bruce Nauman titled Flayed Earth/Flayed Self (Skin/Sink), dated 1974

Bruce Nauman

Flayed Earth/Flayed Self (Skin/Sink), 1974
Artist's book, wrappers, offset-printed, staple bound, black-and-white, 32 pp.
6 7/8 × 4 7/8 inches (17.5 × 12.6 cm)
A booklet by Bruce Nauman titled Bruce Nauman: Leo Castelli Gallery, January 27-February 17, dated 1968

Bruce Nauman

Bruce Nauman: Leo Castelli Gallery, January 27-February 17, 1968
Paperback cover, staple bound, offset printed, black-and white booklet. 12 pp.
11 × 8 1/2 inches (27.9 × 21.6 cm)

“Art is a means to acquiring an investigative activity.”


—Bruce Nauman, as quoted in Ian Wallace and Russell Keziere, “Bruce Nauman Interviewed” (1979), in Please Pay Attention Please: Bruce Nauman’s Words

A book by Bruce Nauman titled L A Air, dated 1970

Bruce Nauman

L A Air, 1970
Artist's book with wrappers, offset-printed, staple bound, color, 12 pp.
12 × 12 inches (30.5 × 30.5 cm)
A video of an artist's book by Bruce Nauman titled, L A Air, dated 1970.
L A Air, 1970 © 2018 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
L A Air, 1970 © 2018 Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

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