timm ulrichs: permutation — permutationeller computer-text. 1. — lieferung 1963/71
Hannover: Published by the artist, 1971. First edition of 150, of which this is no. 57. Leporello artists’ book dot matrix printed on 37.5 x 30 cm (14.75 x 12 in) perforated tractor feed computer paper, with the first page bound to thick white card stock covers silk screened in black. 25 + 1 pp. Text in German. Hand numbered and signed by the artist in blank ink.
Artists’ book by Timm Ulrichs in which a computer was used to create every possible anagram of the word ‘PERMUTATION.’ Per the introduction, the eleven letters in the word can be rearranged to include 39,916,800 permutations, which if printed in this format on tractor feed computer paper would have resulted in 56,700-page book with a thickness of 5 meters (16.4 ft). This book captures the first 17,600 permutations on twenty-five pages with 704 permutations per page which extends to over 7 meters (23 ft). The idea for the artists’ book was initially conceived in 1963, but was not realized until 1971 after me met Friedemann Singer who helped write the software and print the text using a dot matrix printer. A charming combination of concrete poetry, computer art, and the leporello format numbered and signed at inside back cover by the artist. Scarce.
Very good with trace amounts of offset rubbing, a few faint spots at front and rear cover, bumps to corners, and age toning to cover and page extremities. Item #978
Out of stock