Almost a decade ago I read about this project Rutherford Chang: We Buy White Albums over at hyperallergic. I remember thinking at the time: I would LOVE to see that.
Back in 2013, Chang had set up a store/exhibit in Soho, NYC, where
the only thing in stock here is the Beatles’s White Album, and the store doesn’t sell any of them, it only acquires more….(it included) 700 copies of the 1968 double-LP first edition of the White Album, all the personal collection of Chang. Each album is marked with a distinct serial number on the bottom corner of the starkly designed cover by Richard Hamilton, a totally white cover that’s readily attracted the wandering drawings of (possibly stoned) listeners, the visible stains of coffee cups, and some mold.
I never did get to see it, but the idea captivated me and I never forgot it.
Needless to say, I was excited and delighted to see that it was on the road and recently at the AGO! You can see part of the exhibit above. It wasn’t the same as being in the store, but it captured the essence of that 2013 event. Chang even made a new recording that consisted of 100 copies of the album all playing at the same time. The AGO had it on display and for sale, too:
As a big fan of conceptual art and the Beatles, I loved this project. I’m glad I could experience it through the AGO.
For more details, I recommend you go to that hyperallergic link and read more about it. You can also read more about the exhibit at the AGO, here.
(Images: top two mine, bottom image is a link to the hyperallergic article)
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