Art Metropole

30 Sep. 2006

Book launch for AA Bronson's Tick-Tock

Artist

AA Bronson

Time

3 pm - 5 pm

Art Metropole is pleased to host a launch and signing for AA Bronson’s new book Tick Tock, published by Imschoot uitgevers, Belgium, on Saturday, September 30th from 3 to 5 pm. Tick Tock reproduces in full color the flags of each of the 45 countries of subSaharan Africa, plus an additional flag designed by Marcus Garvey for a new African country that was to have become a homeland for Afro-Americans. The pages of illustrations are perforated and can be cut open by the viewer to reveal a dark underside: on the reverse of each flag is printed the AIDS statistics for that country, some of them very shocking indeed. Art Metropole is located at 788 King Street West, between Niagara and Tecumseth Streets.

AA Bronson originally conceived Tick Tock as an exhibition project for Gallery M in Harlem, New York. He created a series of 45 plexi clocks, each reproducing a flag of subSaharan Africa, plus an additional clock reproducing Marcus Garvey’s flag for the mythical African country which was supposed to have become a homeland for Afro-Americans. The installation transformed the storefront gallery into a clock shop, and the clocks were sold at $40 each: each clock came with a small booklet summarizing the AIDS statistics for each country, plus the statistics for black America. The project was intended to raise awareness of and discussion of AIDS in the communbity where it continues to spread the fastest in America. The clocks, in editions of 3, quickly sold out, about half to the local residents, and half to art scene intruders, who heard about the exhibition and came shopping for inexpensive art.

This new publication updates the statistics for each country, and presents the flags in full color, without text. At first reading, the book seems to be only a picture book of flags, until one realizes that the pages are uncut, and perforated. The reader can slice open the pages themselves to reveal the AIDS statitistics printed on the reverse of each flag. The cover is wrapped in a wrapper of thin latex, similar to the material used for condoms.

Tick Tock is published in an edition of 1000 copies by Imschoot uitgevers, Belgium.

The artist will be present to sign your copy of the book.

AA Bronson, born Michael Tims, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 1946 -.

Images

1: AA Bronson signing new shwag.
2: AA Bronson and Jay Smith.
3: AA Bronson with Jay Smith and Laura Rapp.
4: Ann Dean, Daniel Olson and Bill Burns.
5: James Carl, AA Bronson, Zin Taylor and Derek Sullivan.
6: Krista Buecking with Derek Sullivan enjoying a laugh.

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