Double Game
Sophie Calle
Violette Editions
English
Hardback
293 pages
147 x 200 mm
2007
ISBN 9781900828284
Double Game was the first major publication in English by French artist Sophie Calle, and her best-selling title to date. It takes the form of a double jeu, a ‘double game’, between the work of Sophie Calle and the fiction of Paul Auster. Published in 2007 a smaller hardback format, reprising all the qualities of the first edition, to coincide with the 52nd Venice Biennale, at which Calle represented France.
The story begins with Maria, the fictional character in Paul Auster’s novel, Leviathan. Most of Maria’s works are, in fact, based on those of Sophie Calle. The first section of Double Game takes us through the few original works by Maria that Sophie makes her own, presented both in their fictional context and illustrated by Calle’s actual reproduction of them. In the second section, the story delves deeper into the crux of Calle’s world, with a sequence of Calle’s seminal narrative and abstract works in texts and images that were appropriated by Maria in Leviathan. The third section of Double Game takes the dialogue straight to Maria’s original creator, Paul Auster, who in turn takes Calle as his subject, formulating for her the Gotham Handbook, which offers Personal Instructions for SC on How to Improve Life in New York City (Because she asked…).
(source: https://www.lensculture.com/books/7556-sophie-calle-double-game)
About the Artist
Sophie Calle (French pronunciation: [sɔfi kal]; born 9 October 1953) is a French writer, photographer, installation artist, and conceptual artist. Daughter of the contemporary art collector Robert Calle, Calle’s work is distinguished by its use of arbitrary sets of constraints, and evokes the French literary movement known as Oulipo. Her work frequently depicts human vulnerability, and examines identity and intimacy. She is recognized for her detective-like tendency to follow strangers and investigate their private lives. Her photographic work often includes panels of text of her own writing.
https://www.tate.org.uk/
(source: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/sophie-calle-2692)
About the Publisher
Established in London in 1995 by Robert Violette – recognized by Wallpaper* magazine in their 15th-anniversary issue as one of 150 international ‘movers, shakers and makers of the last 15 years’ – Violette Editions is an independent publishing imprint for new editorial projects and books on the contemporary visual arts, with an emphasis on first books by artists, collections of artist writings and innovative projects that push the limits of book design and fabrication. Violette Editions has also created, produced and advised on original editorial projects for leading brands, institutions and galleries in the arts and fashion, product design and even gaming.
https://www.violetteeditions.com/
(source: https://www.violetteeditions.com/about-violette-editions)
