wide awake garage
close this & return to gallery
DANIEL E. KELM
 

A Humument

Artist book by Tom Phillips
Two copies bound by Kelm
1989, 1991
  

summary
who

Tom Phillips created loose prints that were produced and distributed over time.

Steve Clay of Granary Books commissioned Kelm to make enclosures for two complete sets.

In 1966 artist Tom Phillips set himself a task: to find a second-hand book for threepence and alter every page by painting, collage and cut-up techniques to create an entirely new version. He found his threepenny novel in a junkshop on Peckham Rye, South London. This was an 1892 Victorian obscurity titled A Human Document by W. H. Mallock and he titled his altered book A Humument. The first version of all 367 treated pages was published in 1973 since when there have been four revised editions. A Humument is now one of the best known and loved of all 20th Century artist’s books and is regarded as a seminal classic of postmodern art.

A Human Document text by W. H. Mallock, altered by Tom Phillips.

Enclosure by Daniel E. Kelm.

-

Closed box with label inspired by artwork from the interior.