Edition : First / London / Institute of Contemporary Art / 1963-1964 / Softcover. / VG+ Square 8vo, 108pp, 128pp and 128pp. Laminate wraps as issued. Numerous Black & White plates. Text in English. A little wear to edges.
One of the key arts publications of the sixties. During the 50’s and 60’s Theo Crosby acted as a ‘hidden hand’ to the London’s avant garde, and along with ‘This is Tomorrow’ in 1956, one of the most distinct printed artefacts of his infuence is the short lived magazine of the ICA – Living Arts. The publication encompasses art, architecture, design and the burgeoning power of the new media. Of particular note is Archigram’s landmark ‘living city’ exhibition (around 60 pages of it), which Crosby himself organised, along with Richard Hamilton’s ‘Hers is a lush situation’ as part Urbane Image. Other highlights include urban photography, Cornelius Cardew, Reyner Banham on cycling, Franz Kine, Avant Garde Cinema, Adolph Gottleib, Bernard Cohen. The overall feeling is of a meeting of great minds – resulting in the emergence of genuinely new ideas and processes. That all this appears in one place is testament to Crosby’s enthusiasm and editorship, and to the importance of the ICA during it’s early years.
