So To Write

So To Write has been produced on the occasion of Terry Atkinson’s solo exhibition at Josey gallery, Norwich, 2022. Throughout his practice, Atkinson has been candid in acknowledging the influence of friendships and exchanges on his ideas. While preparing the exhibition at Josey, Atkinson shared recent exchanges with correspondents, some of which had been maintained for over 40 years: linguist Noam Chomsky, historian Mark Mazower, and art historians Jonathan Petropoulos and T.J. Clark.

Clark’s 2018 book Heaven on Earth: Painting and the Life To Come for Atkinson, as he opens his exchange with the art historian, reproduced here, ‘presses in on my practice’. It has, as Atkinson shares, ‘enriched my thinking concerning the matter of sheer materialism in art practice’. So To Write is an amalgamation of two letters written by Atkinson to Clark on 10 December 2019 and 20 January 2020. Alongside a selection of colour reproductions from the series 'American Civil War', the letters elaborate Atkinson’s critique of the concept of ‘visual language’, develop an intellectual and political biography, and provide a context for interpreting the war works.

So To Write features an introduction by Jonathan P. Watts and is designed by Christopher Lacy. Riso print with colour tipped-in plates in a first edition of 100 copies.

Foreword by Jonathan P. Watts

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