Curio

State Library of New South Wales

The Rise and Fall of Civilisation: Blacked-out Book, 1974

Printed paper, paint, letraset 

H 2016/520

Purchased 2016



In this artist’s book, Sydney-based conceptual artist Mike Parr (b. 1945) has taken a 1953 economic history volume by Shepard B Clough, The Rise and Fall of Civilisation, and covered over its text with precise, rectangular blocks of black paint. Primarily a performance artist, Parr’s works often focus on themes of destruction and violence. In his Blacked-out Book, Parr has inflicted violence on Clough’s text, critiquing the act of writing history by changing the text from meaningful marks to nothingness.


Mike Parr established the Sydney artist-run gallery ‘Inhibodress’ alongside Peter Kennedy and Tim Johnson in 1970, to display conceptual and installation art. 


Dr. Shepard B. Clough was a professor of economic history at Columbia University and wrote books including The Rise and Fall of Civilisation (1953), Basic Values of Western Civilisation (1960) and Economic History of Europe (1969).

Mike Parr’s sister, Julie Rrap, is also a successful performance artist. 


Blacked-out book was first exhibited as part of Trans Art 1: Idea Demonstrations at the gallery 'Inhibodress' in 1971. This work is Parr’s earliest exploration of purification of text and destruction, themes which he has returned to throughout his career.

Mike Parr’s artistic practice encompasses performance art, video, sculpture, printmaking and drawing. 

Inscription inside from cover of book: ‘I had this idea that I would like to get another copy of this book (same edition etc etc) and do the same to it as I have done to this copy, except that I would paint everything out white this time. This way I would have black/white copies of the history of Western Civilization. Mike Parr, May 1974’.