Bernardo Bertolucci's iconic, sexual and violent film from 1972 has inspired a new art project. A limited edition book made up of 450 returned postcards from over 7000 hand-delivered to households throughout the UK between 2004 and 2006...
Who? Photographer and winner of Salon Photo Prize 201 EJ Major's latest work 'love is...'.
What? A limited edition artist’s book made up of 450 returned postcards from over 7000 hand-delivered to households throughout the UK between 2004 and 2006. Printed on the front of each card was a screenshot taken from each second of the 1972 Bernardo Bertolucci film Last Tango in Paris, including the mesmerising scenes of Maria Schneider walking the streets of Paris and her and Marlon Brando in the unfurnished apartment. On the back of the card was the artist’s freepost address and “love is…” inviting recipients to respond and return the postcard as part of an enquiry, into love. Ambiguous on many levels, Bertolucci's film deals with love in anti-cliché ways – fiercely sexual, violently passionate times and vicious at times – and the prompt “love is…” remains open-ended. Whilst only 6% of the cards were sent back the results varied from the more predictable to the unexpected, some outpours and some sad, angry and even funny. “One person just Tipp-Exed out the ‘love is…’ and returned the card, a subtle but quite unsettling response,” explains Major.
Why? Love is one of the strongest and most important emotions. An evolved state of the survival instinct it also conjures up a variety of feelings and attitudes unique to each individual. The focus of this teamed with the intimate nature of the handwritten letter – the subject of Craig Oldman’s latest exhibition and the renowned blog Letters of Note – gives way to a deeply personal and intriguing line of discovery. Each postcard also has its own story, in terms of its place in the narrative of the film and its journey through the hands of the recipient and subsequently the Post Office. Plus, the project is perfect excuse to rewatch the classic which gave butter a whole new meaning.
love is... the Limited Edition Artists Book is available to order online from www.selfpublishbehappy.com (£80 + P&P)
Text by Lucia Davies
