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V.I.P.
Vagabonds in Power

Item date(s): 2016

Oliver Mayhew  - (artist and translated by)
Niccoló Pachiavelli  - (fictitious author)
Niccoló Machiavelli  - (original author)


Pages: 59pp
Size: 195 x 120mm
Technique: Digital print
Edition: 30

Theme(s): Censorship, visual encoding and re-translation of Niccolo Machiavelli`s `The Prince`

Place publication: (Pretoria, South Africa)
Publisher: The artist

Reference note:
Hardcover codex presented as a connect the dots reinterpretation, through a method of censoring, of the 1999 Penguin edition of Niccolò Machiavell's `The Prince'.

The book's dust jacket states:

'V.I.P. by Niccolò Pachiavelli is an abbreviated version of Niccolò Machiavelli's `The Prince`. This book is written as an instant pleasure principle: each of the 26 chapters is laid out as a quick and easy connect the dots lessons on how to be an effective and prosperous individual*. The advice put forth in this book has left a marked impression on influential and powerful rulers throughout history. Philosophers describe it as a textbook approach to politics, economics, and social sciences.

* This book is used as a study guide to Niccolò Machiavell's `The Prince`. The chapters within `The Prince` have been re-translated into a series of coded dots. Using a method of censorship The Prince has been re-translated through a process of chronologically eliminating the corresponding alphabetic letter to each chapter: the first chapter, all the A`s were marked out, in the second chapter all the B`s were marked out, this method would follow all the way to the final 26th chapter were all the Z`s were marked out. Thus creating an ABC connect the dots handbook for political, economic and social expediency.'

Artist, original author and fictitious author as producers



Exhibition notes:
ABSA L'atelier 2014 (older version of the book shown)

Ref: DP/18002




The book's flap jacket










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