Artifact 3:4 1986 R3/= Artifact 25:9 1996 R25/=+
Photograph
Artifact 3:4 1986 R3/= Artifact 25:9 1996 R25/=+
From Ryoichi Excavations
2001
Gelatin silver print
18/30
Each Image: 15 x 11 cm (5 7/8 x 4 5/16 in.)
Overall: 20.3 x 25.4 cm (8 x 10 in.)
Gift of Dr. Stephen Nicholas
2005.0924.0022
Inscriptions recto (ink): [title] / [date of negative] / [date of print] / R [symbol] / [signature] / [edition number]
[no inscription verso]
[no inscription verso]
TextThis narrative of this series is as follows:
Nagatani "informs" us that in 1985, a Japanese archeologist named Ryoichi received a mysterious set of maps that led him to excavate numerous historic and contemporary sites around the world noted for their cultural significance. For 15 years, Ryoichi and his team secretly excavated these sites. At each location, they unearthed a different make of car. Ryoichi had discovered a worldwide "automobile culture" that appeared to parallel our own, although it was anachronistic, both historically and geographically. After unearthing the artifacts, Ryoichi's team covered up all evidence of their digs, but not before Nagatani had photographed each site, providing the only existing record of Ryoichi's discoveries. (source, Andrew Smith Gallery)
Nagatani "informs" us that in 1985, a Japanese archeologist named Ryoichi received a mysterious set of maps that led him to excavate numerous historic and contemporary sites around the world noted for their cultural significance. For 15 years, Ryoichi and his team secretly excavated these sites. At each location, they unearthed a different make of car. Ryoichi had discovered a worldwide "automobile culture" that appeared to parallel our own, although it was anachronistic, both historically and geographically. After unearthing the artifacts, Ryoichi's team covered up all evidence of their digs, but not before Nagatani had photographed each site, providing the only existing record of Ryoichi's discoveries. (source, Andrew Smith Gallery)
