Ecart (1969-1980)

This book focuses on Swiss artist John Armleder’s (born 1948) early Fluxus-related works with Ecart, a group Armleder cofounded with Patrick Lucchini and Claude Rychner in Geneva in the late 1960s. The Ecart Group published artists’ books, presented exhibitions and performances, and opened a bookstore/gallery that is considered to be one of the most important alternative spaces in Europe in the 1970s (Ken Friedman). Ecart was particularly important in Europe during the 1970s and 1980s, not only as an independent publishing house, but also because it introduced in Switzerland (and sometimes in Europe) a large number of leading artists of the era, including Joseph Beuys and Andy Warhol. Ecart also worked with artists such as Dick Higgins, Lawrence Weiner, Annette Messager, Daniel Spoerri, Giuseppe Chiari, Maurizio Nannucci and Ben Vautier. This volume is co-published with the Charles H. Scott Gallery, Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design, Vancouver.