Synopsis: During a residency in Mexico City, Holten became fascinated with the diverse manifestations of economic activity on the winding urban streets. She took notes on the colloquial gestures surrounding advertising and selling through copious drawings and snapshots. These fueled a spontaneous "factory" in her hotel room, mainly utilizing the detritus from daily transactions. Newspapers, take-out packaging, toilet paper tubes, and other leftovers were turned into handmade goods, such as pet toys. Holten's various activities around Mexico City culminated in GRAN BAZAAR, which combined elements of performance and exhibition with aspects of archeological digs and flea markets.

Beyond documenting the physical manifestations of GRAN BAZAAR, the book also contains texts by Nestor Garcia Canclini (anthropologist, Mexico City), J. Frederick Janka (curator, Mexico City), and Sally O'Reilly (writer, London). Canclini writes about the influence of the urban informal in international mega-cities and Janka outlines the organic evolution of the project. Sally O'Reilly interviews Holten on techniques concerning art, trade, and object dilemmas.

Category: Book
Pages: [unpaginated]
Dimensions (Height x Width x Depth): 21 x 16 cm.
Cover: Paperback
Binding: sewn bound
Color: color
Edition 1000
Signed: Unsigned and Unnumbered
ISBN: 0978804600

Price Info: $15.00
[-10% discount to Printed Matter members at the Member level]

Inventory #: C/80144