Al Hansen, The secret of the whole thing. Das Geheimnis des Ganzen. Sophistofluxusdeluxus

Berlin, Petersen Galerie, 1983. Staple-bound, 21 x 15 cm, 20 pp. Edition of 500 copies. Artists’ book published in conjunction with an exhibition at the Petersen Galerie and the artist program of D.A.A.D. Berlin. Features the text ‘How my family comes to America & The secret of the whole thing’ (original English text in facsimile handwriting, with typed German translation), various b/w images including a portrait of Dieter Roth and Dorothy Iannone.

This copy features several inscriptions by Hansen: under the printed line ‘I love Berlin’, the artist added ‘u. ein bischen Düsseldorf! Al Hansen 1986’; two speech bubbles ‘Jürgen’ and ‘Irmgard’; ‘my daughter’ handwritten beneath an image of Bibbe Anne Hansen; ‘Anna Banana’ is added below an image of Banana’s work. Very good copy despite the minor toning along spine of back cover.