To write, to exchange, to publish: Variable Piece #4: Secrets (1970) of Douglas Huebler and Secreto (2016-2020) of María P. Vila
Escribir, intercambiar, publicar: Variable Piece #4: Secrets (1970) de Douglas Huebler y Secreto (2016-2020) de María P. Vila
Author
Andrade Kobayashi, Megumi
Full text
https://revistaalpha.ulagos.cl/index.php/alpha/article/view/329710.32735/S0718-22012025000603297
Abstract
This paper proposes a comparative study of Variable Piece #4: Secrets (1970) by the american conceptual artist Douglas Huebler (1924-1997) and Secreto (2016-2020) by the chilean artist María P. Vila. These are interactive works that, through an installation, involve the participation of the public through the writing of secrets. In both projects the secrets were made public in two instances: through their exchange among the participants and, later, through their publication in the form of an artist's book. Although the works by Huebler and Vila can be grouped under the “art as action” trend, due to their publication, two processes of rematerialization take place. The formal and material decisions made by the artists and editors account for profound differences in the conception of what an artist's book is and can be. Este ensayo propone un análisis comparado de Variable Piece #4: Secrets (1970) del artista conceptual norteamericano Douglas Huebler (1924-1997) y Secreto (2016-2020) de la artista chilena María P. Vila. Se trata de obras interactivas que, mediante una instalación, involucran la participación del público a partir de la escritura de secretos. En ambos proyectos los secretos se hicieron públicos en dos instancias: mediante su intercambio entre los participantes y, luego, por medio de su publicación en la forma de un libro de artista. Si bien las obras de Huebler y Vila se pueden agrupar bajo la tendencia “art as action”, debido a su publicación se producen dos procesos de rematerialización que –a propósito de una serie de decisiones formales y materiales– dan cuenta de profundas diferencias en la concepción de lo que es y puede ser un libro de artista.