Guy de Cointet

 
Guy de Cointet (American, b. France. 1934–1983) was fascinated with language, which he explored primarily through performance and drawing. His practice involved collecting random phrases, words, and even single letters from popular culture and literary sources—he often cited Raymond Roussel's novel "Impressions of Africa" as influential—and working these elements into non-linear narratives, which were presented as plays to his audience.
Paintings and works on paper would then figure prominently within these performances. In his play "At Sunrise . . . A Cry Was Heard" (1976), a large painting depicting letters bisected by a white sash served as a main subject and prop, with the lead actress continuously referring to it and reading its jumble of letters as if it were an ordinary script. His drawings likewise are almost readable but just beyond comprehension.
De Cointet is recognized as one of the major figures in the Conceptual art movement that emerged in Los Angeles in the 1970s, having strongly influenced a number of prominent artists working in southern California today, including Paul McCarthy and Mike Kelley, for whom both drawing and performance figure significantly in their artistic practices.

(external link : www.guydecointet.org)
 
Guy de Cointet - Transatlantique
2024
bilingual edition (English / French)
ER Publishing
Rachel Valinsky invites seven artists from both sides of the Atlantic (Davide Balula, Eva Barto, Julie Béna, Jesse Chun, Jean-Pascal Flavien, Gordon Hall, and Alan Reid) to share their views of Guy de Cointet (1934-1983), a major figure in the conceptual and performance art movements.
Guy de Cointet - Théâtre complet
2017
French edition
Paraguay Press
First publication to gathers all theatrical works by artist Guy de Cointet, written between 1973 and 1983. 25 plays, published with an explanatory apparatus and numerous documents from the de Cointet Estate at the Centre Pompidou's Kandinsky Library.
Guy de Cointet - The Complete Plays
2017
English edition
Paraguay Press
First publication to gathers all theatrical works by artist Guy de Cointet, written between 1973 and 1983. 25 plays, published with an explanatory apparatus and numerous documents from the de Cointet Estate at the Centre Pompidou's Kandinsky Library.
Guy de Cointet -
2016
French edition
JRP|Editions - Monographs
The first monograph to offer an overview of Cointet's enigmatic and influential oeuvre (available in English edition).
Guy de Cointet -
2016
English edition
JRP|Editions - Monographs
The first monograph to offer an overview of Cointet's enigmatic and influential oeuvre.
Guy de Cointet - Who\'s that guy? - Tell me more  about Guy de Cointet (DVD)
2014
original version, bilingual susbtitles (English / French)
various
A film, a portrait of Guy de Cointet (1934-1983), a French-born artist based in California who created text and sculptural works, often combining them as props and stage sets in theatrical performance pieces (interviews with John Baldessari, Larry Bell, Morgan Fisher, Paul McCarthy, Christophe Bourseiller, etc.).
Guy de Cointet - A Few Drawings
2005
Cneai
sold out
Facsimile reissue of the original graphic poetry book self-published in 1975 by Guy de Cointet.
Guy de Cointet -
1996
bilingual edition (English / French)
Le Magasin
sold out
Booklet published on the occasion of a 1996 exhibition commissioned by Paul McCarthy and featuring the work of three European artists exiled in California: Guy de Cointet, Bas Jan Ader and Wolfgang Stoerchle. The publication includes texts by McCarthy and Cornelia Butler, biographical and bibliographical notes.


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