J.V. Martin [2010]

MARTIN, J.V. J.V. Martin. [Randers]: Cykelbørsen Randers, 2010. n.p. [ca. 162 p.]; ill.; 21 x 30 cm.; black cover with text in white

“In 1986, J.V. Martin wrote a manuscript which was intended to be published in connection with a retrospective exhibition at the Randers Museum of Art. For various reason, it never came out. This is now being remedied” (press release, inserted loosely inside this volume — translation is ours). The facsimile version of the manuscript was published on the occasion of the exhibition “Storadmiralen går i land” (The Grand Admiral goes ashore”), held at Galleri Cykelbørsen in Randers in 2010. The original copy resides at the Randers Local Historical Archive. Excerpts had previously been published in 2007.

The mansuscript reads like a journey through Martin’s most significant artistic period, starting in the late 1950s and with a focus on the S.I. years. One reads about the Situationist International, the Little Mermaid scandal, the RSG-6 exhibition, the firebombing of Martin’s own apartment, and more.

We locate 2 copies on OCLC, both in Demark.

[J.V. Martin] J.V. Martin for Fuld Udblaesning [2007]

[J.V. Martin] Jeppesen, Lisa (Ed.).  J.V. Martin for Fuld Udblaesning. Randers: Randers Kunstmuseum, 2007. 168 p.; ill.; 21 x 29 cm.; ill. Cover with reproduction of J.V. Martin painting, text in white. One of 1,000 copies printed.

Catalog of the exhibition J.V. Martin For Fuld Udblaesning, held at the Randers Museum of Art from August 11 to October 7, 2007. Includes a preface by Finn Terman Frederiksen, a text by Mikkel Bolt (which would later be translated as Playmates and Playboys at a higher level: J.V. Martin and the Situationist International, 1957-1972 and published as a book by Sternberg press in 2014) and a text by Bendiks Skov-Petersen. The manifest Uddfrag fra Kunstens Irrealisme, written by J.V. Martin in 1986, is reproduced in facsimile. Includes nearly 100 beautiful, full-page, color reproductions of Martin’s works. A lengthy biography of the artist, the work of Lisa Jeppesen, is provided as a post-face. A thorough and important retrospective.

We located 3 OCLC copies of this surprisingly scarce catalogue.

Konstrevy 5-6 [1963] – Rare article by J.V. Martin about the RSG-6 exhibit

Martin, J.V. [Else Steen Hansen]. Homo Ludens. In Konstrevy 5-6 (pp. 200-203). Stockholm: Ahlen & Akerlunds Forlags, 1963. ca. 64 p. [numbered 162-224]; ill.; 21 x 30 cm.; ill. Black and red wrappers with text in white.

Rare contemporary account of the RSG-6 exhibit (“Homo Ludens” by Else Steen Hansen (pp. 200-203) published in a Swedish avant-garde art magazine. Even more uncommon is the fact that this profusely illustrated review received the closest thing to praise from the members of the Internationale Situationniste. In “les mois les plus longs” (Internationale Situationniste 9, August 1964), those who professed their contempt for all art critics describe Hansen’s review as “un compte rendu intelligent” (see http://mai68.org/textes/IS/i-situationniste.blogspot.com/2007/04/les-mois-les-plus-longs.html)

So how is this possible? Well, the only review the Situationists would endorse is one written by their own. Indeed, Else Steen Hansen is a pseudonym for J.V. Martin, who authored this (understandably positive) review. The full text (along with the illustrations) can be found at http://www.copenhagenfreeuniversity.dk/homolude.html

Flyvebald Nr. 2: Kommerciel sammenspisning! [1963]

INTERNATIONALE SITUATIONNISTE. Flyvebald Nr. 2: Kommerciel sammenspisning!. Copenhagen (Denmark) : Situationistisk Internationale, 1 March 1963. 1 p; 47 x 33 cm.; black ink on cream stock

Rare second poster by the Scandinavian section of the Situationist International, which denounces the Danish Ministry of Culture’s commercialist policies. Includes an excerpt from Debord’s “Thèses sur la révolution culturelle. “The Situationist International’s investigation of the KP scandal in Aarhus is complete. The Young Artist Association and its ally, the new state-endorsed K.P. in Aarhus, are exposed for their commercially-inspired coup attempt. A coup attempt that is as dangerous as the state’s attempt to gain control of the last sector of society — the art sector… Put state control and commercialism back where they belong: in the dustbins of cultural History!” (translation is mine). Signed by P. Laugesen, H.H. Merved, and J.V. Martin for the Scandinavian section. Mailing addresses for the German and French sections are also provided.

Not accounted for in any of the major bibliographies of Guy Debord and the Situationist International (BNF, Gonzalvez, Raspaud & Voyer, Scheppe & Ohrt), and absent of major Situationist archives (Yale, BnF).

To our knowledge, this is the first time this poster is reproduced. We kindly ask readers who have more context on the events described in this poster to write to us or comment on this post.

Flyvebald Nr. 1: Kommerciel sammenspisning? [1963]

INTERNATIONALE SITUATIONNISTE. Flyvebald Nr. 1: Kommerciel sammenspisning. Copenhagen (Denmark) : Situationistisk Internationale, 1 March 1963. 1 p; 49 x 32 cm.; black ink on light blue stock.

Rare first poster by the Scandinavian section of the Situationist International, which denounces the Danish Ministry of Culture’s commercialist policies. “What do the heads of the State’s United Culture Concentration Camps (the Academy Council and Ministry of Culture) think about a censored and state-recognized exhibition…having chosen an art dealer as a business manager…” (translation is mine). Signed by P. Laugesen, H.H. Merved, and J.V. Martin for the Scandinavian section. Mailing addresses for the German and French sections are also provided.

Not accounted for in any of the major bibliographies of Guy Debord and the Situationist International (BNF, Gonzalvez, Raspaud & Voyer, Scheppe & Ohrt), and absent of major Situationist archives (Yale, BnF).

To our knowledge, this is the first time this poster is reproduced.

Vestergade 58 Aarhus Praesenterer NY-IRREALISMEN Operation “Playtime”[1967]

[Situationistisk International] Vestergade 58 Aarhus Praesenterer NY-IRREALISMEN Operation “Playtime”. Aarhus (Denmark) : Situationistisk Internationale, n.d. [1967]. 1 p.; ill.; 29 x 46 cm.; ill.poster with detourned comics

Poster of the exhibition of anti-paintings by Michèle Bernstein (The Victory of the Spanish Republicans) and J.V. Martin (the Golden Ships series), and five Nothing Boxes by René Viénet. “In March 1967, the same year Debord and Vaneigem’s books appeared, Martin organized another Situationist exhibition in Denmark called ‘Operation Playtime.’ This time the exhibition took place in Aarhus at Galleri Forstesalen. The gallery was located on the first floor at Vestergrade 58, a very vibant local jazz house…” (Rasmussen, Mikkel Bolt. Playmates and Playboys at a Higher Level: J. V. Martin and the Situationist International, p.34)

Scheppe & Ohrt 541. Not in other bibliographies. We do not locate copies on OCLC or in the trade of this rare poster

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Im Namen des Volkes [1965]

MARTIN, J.V.. Im Namen des Volkes. Randers: Situationistisk Internationale, n.d. [1965]. n.p. [11 p.]; 21 x 30; ill. covers with detourned comics.

Short pamphlet by J.V. Martin on the trial against the Scandinavian section of the Situationist International. Danish courts later dropped all charges. Ends with the words “There is no state!” (translation is mine).

“IN DENMARK IN FEBRUARY 1965, J.V. Martin published his comments — weighed down by worsening conditions — on the proceedings instituted against the SI by the local branch of “Moral Rearmament” (Im Namen des Volkes). Danish translations of these texts were published by the Left socialist journal Aspekt: in its first issue, under the title To Realize Philosophy, To Realize Art… (Internationale Situationniste #10)

Raspaud & Voyer 117. Not in Scheppe & Ohrt. We locate no copies on OCLC or in the trade.

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Situationistisk Revolution 2 – Elendigheden i studentens milieu [1968]

[Situationistisk Internationale]. Situationistisk Revolution 2 – Elendigheden i studentens milieu. Randers (Denmark): S.I., November 1968. 48 p.; ill.; 21 x 14.5 cm.; ill. Cream wrappers with text in black

Second (and rarest) issue of Situationistisk Revolution, the journal of the Scandinavian section of the SI. Bernstein, Debord, Khayati, Vaneigem and Vienet are listed as members of the editorial committee, with J.V. Martin as editor-in-chief. This issue largely consists in a translation of De La Misere en Milieu Etudiant into Danish as Elendigheden i studentens milieu (p.5-31). However, other items are included: an original collage by J.V. Martin (p.32), reproduction of Situationist broadsides (p.33-36), a translation of Definition Minimum des Organisations Revolutionnaires and several leaflets from the CMDO (p.37-45), a list of publications by the Scandinavian section of the SI (p.46), and a translation of Debord’s Theses sur la Revolution culturelle (p.47-48).

See below for past blog entries on other issues/items related to Situationistik Revolution.

• Situationistisk Revolution. Randers, 1962. A subscription leaflet announcing the release of the first issue
• Situationistisk Revolution 1. Randers, 1962. The first issue of the periodical.
• NY-Irrealisme (Specialudgave Situationistisk Revolution 2). Randers, 1967. A special issue published ahead of the “actual” issue 2. It serves as a catalogue for a second ‘manifestation of the Situationist International‘ held at Gallery Vestergade
• Situationistisk Revolution 2. Randers, 1968. The second issue of the periodical. Featured here.
• Supplement til Situationistisk Revolution 2. Randers, 1969. This supplement to issue 2 provides an illustrated account of the May 68 riots.
• Situationistisk Revolution 3. Copenhagen, 1970. The third and last issue of the periodical.
• Situationistik Revolution 1-3. Copenhagen, 2013. A facsimile reprint of Situationistisk Revolution 1, NY-Irrealisme, and Situationistisk Revolution 3 (Situationistisk Revolution 2 and Supplement til Situationistisk Revolution 2 are not reproduced)

Scarce, with no copies found on OCLC (librairies only own issue 1 & 3)

Situationistisk Revolution (SUBSCRIPTION BULLETIN) [1962]

[Situationistisk Internationale]. Situationistisk Revolution. Randers (Denmark): S.I., July 1962. 4 p.; ill.; 21 x 15 cm.; black ink on orange stock.

Subscription leaflet announcing the release of the first issue of “Situationistisk Revolution”, which would be published in October 1962. J.V. Martin is listed as the editor, and the address of the SI in Randers (Denmark) is provided.

Page 3 features a detourned comic that would appear in the third issue of the periodical in October 1970 (p.66). It reads as follows: “We are a nightmare that culture’s sleep does not overcome. We are only an avant-garde; others will come” ( I welcome a better translation, since I do not speak Danish).

The full text of the leaflet is available (in Danish) here: https://web.archive.org/web/20160325013335/http://www.copenhagenfreeuniversity.dk/sr.html

Hanegal. Gallisk poesialbum 1941-61 [1961]

NASH, Jorgen; MARTIN, J.V. Hanegal. Gallisk poesiealbum 1941-61. Paris: Internationale Situationniste, June 1961. n.p. [72 p.]; 21 x 27 cm.; publisher’s yellow printed boards with front drawing in black by Katarina Nash. Grey protecting cards. Hand-painted black slipcase with title stenciled in white (“Hanegal”) wrapped in distinctive chicken wire – a reference to the Gallic rooster pictured on the front wrapper. Signed by both authors on front endpaper. One of 750 copies; our #554. Loosely inserted is a single page, 21 x 29.7 cm review slip

Spectacular artist book that features Gallic-inspired poetry by Jorgen Nash (in Danish) and twenty full-page lithograph illustrations by J.V. Martin. Nash and Martin were both members of the Internationale Situationniste until the “Nashist” scission of 1962.