Christopher Logue Poster Poems at Rob Tufnell September 30 – November 7
//Gone Ladies, with Ian Cameron, 1966. Off-set litho, 58 x 44.5cm,(edition size unknown). Published by Vandal Publications for Gear//
One of the exhibitions I’m most looking forward to visiting this autumn is London dealer Rob Tufnell’s presentation of the so-called “poster poems” produced by the late Christopher Logue.
Among them, of course, will be collaborations with Derek Boshier which feature in the forthcoming monograph Rethink/Re-entry: Sex War Sex Cars Sex and Pop Song, both produced for sale through Tom Salter’s Carnaby Street store Gear.
//Sex War Sex Cars Sex, with Derek Boshier, 1967. Off-set litho, 58.2 x 44.5cm (unknown edition size). Published by Vandal Publications for Gear//
//Pop Song, with Derek Boshier, 1966. Off-set litho, 101.5 x 76cm (edition of 500). Published by Vandal Publications for Gear//
Logue’s first Poster Poem was To My Fellow Artists, produced with designer Germano Facetti in 1958. A few years later, at the prompting of Soho bookseller Bernard Stone, Logue created I Shall Vote Labour to coincide with Britain’s 1964 general election. In his highly readable memoir Prince Charming, Logue – who died in 2011 – relates that he was among several writers approached by the left-wing weekly Tribune to compose 200 words on why they were going to vote for the Labour Party.
// I Shall Vote Labour, 1966. Off-set litho, 56 x 43cm (2nd edition 30,000 copies). Published by Vandal Publications for Gear//
“I settled down to do as requested, giving the usual (correct) answers,” wrote Logue. “Suddenly I was sick of the irritating pleasure this list of wants gave me. To replace it, I wrote the poem consisting of some silly, some sarcastic, reasons for doing so.”
With Stone, Logue printed the first edition, which sold 10,000 copies. For the general election of 1966 – called because Harold Wilson’s government teetered on a majority of just four which was successfully expanded to 96 – Logue teamed with Gear, and 30,000 more copies were circulated.
“Logue is credited with having created the first Poster Poem, a genre long since hijacked with mawkish platitudes and religious rhetoric,” says Rob Tufnell. “His posters were variously provocative, profound and funny.”
//In May, 1969. Off-set litho, 60.5 x 44cm (edition of 500). Published by Turret Books and printed by Goliard Press, London//
//June Release, 1966. Letterpress, 101.5 x 76cm (edition of 500). Designed and printed at L.Verby & Sons Ltd//
The exhibition features all Logue’s Poster Poems, as well as four new examples commissioned from his friends Stephen Claydon, Caroline Coon, Scott King and Posy Simmonds. There will also be a video from Stephen Sutcliffe incorporating the last audio recording of the poet reciting his work.
//September Song, with Germano Facetti, 1966. Off-set litho, 58.5 x 45.5cm (edition size unknown). Published by Vandal Publications for Gear//
Read more about Christopher Logue Poster Poems at Rob Tufnell here.
I recommend Prince Charming; buy copies here.
Order copies of Derek Boshier: Rethink/Re-entry here.