Mikhail Karasik

Автопортрет

Self-portrait

St. Petersburg 1997

405 x 245 mm.

Edition: 21. Copy no. 11/21

Self-portrait is the third publication in which Karasik

publishes his own texts; it follows Butchering calves

from 1989 and Diffuse ruminations on asceticism

from 1995. Both earlier publications employer texts

written earlier. For Self-portrait the concept of the book

and the form were thought out before the text was

written. It contains the artists written and photographic

observations on his own appearance in text as well

as mounted portraits. In addition there is a colour

lithograph with his self-portrait and eight silhouettes cut

from black paper. This confronting ego document was

printed in a 21 copy edition in plain cardboard covers

within a black cardboard slipcase that is adorned with

a montage of photographs showing the artist at work

on one side and a white paper silhouette with a collage

of string glasses. An English translation of the text is

included as separate booklet.