Books on Buses (with Nazgol Ansarinia). For Situation Leeds 07, Leeds City Bus Station and Free Bus Route, 14th - 27th May, 2007.
Despite our ‘relational’ practice and ‘proletariat’ politic Books on Buses was a relatively rare exercise for us in interacting with a ‘non-art’ public. The original idea and design for the books came from Nazgol Ansarinia (who had originally designed similar books for the BART public transport system in California). Black Dogs’ role was mainly administrative and one of facilitating rather than creating; printing the books, getting them bound, having meetings with Metro people etc.
In the first instance the idea seemed very straightforward with a predictable response. We’re no strangers to the colouring-in-book-as-artwork (see Glasgow CCA and Black Dogs Panto performances). It was a ‘gift’ for the city and a practical application of Nazgol’s idea. It would also be an exercise in working collaboratively internationally which, in the end, was an exercise in using new technologies like the internet and video cameras and youtube (the videos used as source material for Nazgol’s designs, operating as a substitute Leeds visit when funding failed are available to view below).
