The Royal Book Lodge began from a collaboration between artists Juli Susin and Veronique Bourgoin in mid-1980′s and gathered around its projects international artists and authors (1). If the Parisian suburb of Montreuil had served as a kind of HQ, from the end of 80, with an axis Paris, Berlin, Marseille, the initiatives and co-operations(2), and were facilitated from 2000 by YG, friend of Susin and Bourgoin (3), were extended, in Eastern Europe, in Los Angeles, on the Ligurian coast in Italy, in Iceland and in Paraguay. Royal Book Lodge’s modus operandi, foremost, is a creation of an artist’s book that enables a dialogue between artists and synthesizes experimentations with artistic media.
The publication Royal Book Lodge by John C. Welchman (4) published by Hatje Cantz will be coming out in 2022.
« A study and a guidance device, the first book on the Royal Book Lodge (“RBL”) is a culmination of a three-year exploration conducted by a renowned art historian John C. Welchman. This study examines for the first time the contribution of RBL to an array of art, film and performance practices including photography, ceramics, writing, and publishing. RBL’s modus operandi, foremost, is a creation of an artist’s book that enables a dialogue between artists and synthesizes experimentations with artistic media. This present book explores various cultural and political geographies, (…) ; and narratives of migrations and travels, art-inflected and otherwise (…). It unpacks questions caught up in various constructs of autobiography, fiction, imagery of remote control, the relation of RBL to the aftermath of the Situationist International, investigations of the archeology of violence, and art’s potential as a pharmacological first aid kit. » (5)
(1) An exhaustive list of artists and theorists who have been associated with the RBL projects: Raisa Aid PY, Adriana Almada PY, Kai Althoff DE, Abel Auer DE, Linda Bilda AT, Bogdana Borowitch UKR, André Butzer DE, matali crasset FR, Salaeina Coulibali ML, Caroline Dahyot FR, Piotr Golos UKR, Schlag, Grems, Supermicro FR, Josquin Gouily-Frossard FR, Guðný Guðmundsdóttir IS, Beate Günther DE, Tobias Hauser DE, Andy Hope 1930 DE, Julia Isidrez PY, Daniel Johnston US, Hekla Dögg Jónsdóttir IS, Dorota Jurczak PL, Bruce Kalberg US, Armin Krämer DE, Alexandre Kalinkin RU, Adolfo Kaminsky AR, Lutz Krüger DE, Charlet Kugel CZ, Jean-Louis Leibovitch FR, Anne Lefebvre BE/FR, Jochen Lempert DE, Roberto Ohrt DE, Jonathan Meese DE, Anna Parkina RU, Ursula Panhans-Bülher DE, Raymond Pettibon US, Jason Rhoades US, Abdelkader Rifi FR, Julia Rublow UKR, Ralph Rumney GB, Gianfranco Sanguinetti IT, Storval Stefan V. Jonsson IS, Lucia Sotnikova RU, M. Suzuki JP, Jeanne Susin FR, Miroslav Tichý CZ, Ewa Wojciak US, Angel Yegsros PY
(2) These initiatives have, over time, been known by different names and labels–Fabrique des Illusions (1997), Prager Kreise (1994), Cosa Nostra Experimentale (1993), Ligne de Mire (1989) or Silverbridge (2000), Magnet River (2008). Since 2012 they have been brought together under the name of Royal Book Lodge.
(3) Since the early 2000′s, Royal Book Lodge were facilitated by YG, friend of Susin and Bourgoin.
(4) John C. Welchman is Distinguished Professor of Art History, University of California, and author of Modernism Relocated (1995); Invisible Colours (1997); Art After Appropriation (2001); Guillaume Bijl (2016); Past Realization (2016); After the Wagnerian Bouillabaisse (2019); and Richard Jackson (2020).
(5) (5). From the advertisement for the book Royal Book Lodge, by John C. Welchman, in the Spring 2022 catalog, Hatje Cantz.
Chronological selection :
1987 – SOCIETE HYDRAULIQUE, dessins-frottages in urban space, Juli Susin, Berlin.
1988 – ETAT DE SIEGE, photography exhibition with Juli, Susin, Véronique Bourgoin, Anne Lefèvre, and others artists from the photography fine art departement found by Lesly Hamilton, at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts de Paris with a catalogue introduced by Jean-Claude Lemagny.
1989 – Creation by Juli Susin and Véronique Bourgoin, of an informal space for collaborations between artists and others friends, in their pavilion in the Parisian suburb of Montreuil where, at the beginning, regular friends were staying (some times for months) like Lazare Boghossian, Gérard Berréby, Roberto Ohrt, Valérie Jaudon, Alexei Khvostenko, Wieshek Swidrak, Natan Eidelman, Sacha Kalinkine, Gianfranco Sanguinetti… and later others like Fabrizio and Jérémie Bonachera, Beate Günther, Tobias Hauser, Andy Hope 1930, Linda Bilda, Grems Supermicro, Dirk Bakker, Sara Glaxia, Raymond Pettibon, André Butzer…
ASSEMBLAGE a book designed by Juli Susin which presented a unique assembly of sculptures by Man Ray, shot by Juli Susin assisted by Véronique Bourgoin at Juliette Man Ray appartement in Paris, édition Ligne de Mire for Marion Meyer
1990 – EXPERIMENTAL HOLOGRAMME STUDIO, Saint-Ptersbourg, Russia, Susin with Sacha Kalinkine
1993 – TIME TRANSFER, screenings of Hungarian experimental films by Gabor Csaszaeri, with Bourgoin and Susin, Montreuil
LE SECOND VOYAGE DE 1929, by Cosa Nostra Expérimentale, designed by Juli Susin with René Boré, Véronique Bourgoin, presented at the Gallery Athanor, Marseille
DONAU WO KOMMST DU HER (Transfer 01026) , Juli Susin and Véronique Bourgoin, at Galerie Folyamat (by Gábor Császári ), Budapest
HOTEL OPOLE, with Wjashek Swidrak, long-term performance of car racing and rest, Poland.
PRAGER KREISE, tribute to John Bock paid in the center of Prague by Gianfranco Sanguinetti and Juli Susin
1994 – QUELQUES PIECES DES ARCHIVES DE GENEVE, COTTBUS et TCHAN TCHIN with Juli Susin, Jean- louis Leibovitch, Véronique Bourgoin, Galerie Point de Vue (indépendant place) & Librairie au Fil du Temps & Dirk Bakker Boeken, Arles
AUTOUR DE L’EROTISME, the erotic collection of Cosa Nostra Expérimentale presented by Véronique Bourgoin and Juli Susin with their works and works from Piotr Golos, Tobias Hauser, Francis Picabia, Wegee, Man Ray and friends …with support by Marion Meyer, Hendrik Berinson and Dirk Bakker, Centre International de Poésie, Couvent du Refuge, Vielle Charité, Marseille
PRAGER KREISE, Revue du Nickel N°1, Artist Book designed by Juli Susin with Véronique Bourgoin presented on the occasion of an exhibition in a private venue, impasse Mousset in Paris, by Juli Susin, Véronique Bourgoin and Gilles Lacombe with the participation of Tobias Hauser, Pascale Lecoq, Anne Lefebvre, Jean-Louis Leibovitch, Gilles Perez, Karima Rekhamdji.
1995 – GENEIGTHEIT ZUR NATURPHILOSOPHIE, Revue du Nickel N°2, artist book by Tobias Hauser with Juli Susin and Véronique Bourgoin
ARCHIVES DES RESTES by Tobias Hauser with Hermann Bohlen, Véronique Bourgoin, Beate Günther, Roberto Ohrt, Gunter Reski and Juli Susin
LES FABLES D’UNE ETRANGE LUCARNE, Juli Susin, Véronique Bourgoin and les photographies du Mexique de Antoine d’Agata, Galerie point de Vue (indépendant place) & Librairie au Fil du Temps & Dirk Bakker Boeken, Arles
ATELIER REFLEXE, foundation of an independent photography fine arts school in Montreuil, by Véronique Bourgoin and Juli Susin with a programme of workshops, exhibitions and publications from invited artists such as Friedl Kubelka, Antoine d’Agata, Joan Fontcuberta, Linda Bilda, Anders Petersen, Nina Korhonen, Boris Mikhaïlov, Gelatin and Jochen Lempert, Adolfo Kaminsky, among others. The last workshop with Abel Ferrara concluded the school in 2016
1987 – 1997 – INUKSHUK, Juli Susin, artist book
1997 – WILLIE OU PAS WILLIE, Véronique Bourgoin, artist book
These two artists’ books were presented for an exhibition of Bourgoin and Susin at the gallery Jan Van der Donk, The Starrett – Lehigh Building, New York City
1998 – DE LA METHODE, Installation with the works by Véronique Bourgoin, Juli Susin and Roberto Ohrt and the artist book presentation “De la Méthode” designed by Juli Susin, a documentation on “Pêche à la bonde” organized at Château de Lorrière Henri de Bresson with Véronique Bourgoin, Juli Susin, Gilles Lacombe, matali crasset, Françis Fichot, Fabrizio Bonachera and others…, Gallery Marion Meyer, Paris.
1998 – 1999 – BAR CLANDESTIN, “La Guillotine” created in Montreuil at Philippe Burin-des-Roziers’ manufacture spaces, with artistic evenings and events, led by Véronique Bourgoin and Juli Susin with François Lecoq, Fabrizio Bonachera and others friends.
2000 – THE LEANING TOWER OF VENICE, Ralph Rumney, artist book, Manosque/Montreuil.
2001 – WANDERUNG NACH ANNAHEIM, artist book with André Butzer, Montreuil.
2003 – SALUT BALAS * CIAO CACAO, artist book with Kai Althoff, Dorota Jurczak, Abel Auer,
Armin Krämer, Paris
EFFONDREMENT DU E-COMMERCE, group presentation in Anna Parkina’s apartment, curated by Juli Susin and Roberto Ohrt, with:
Jason Rhoades, Otto Muehl, Raymond Pettibon, Paul McCarthy, André Butzer, Jonathan Meese,
Michael Riedel, Charlet Kugel, Abel Auer, Birgitte Megerle.
PAR ICI LA SORTIE, artist magazine with Anna Parkina, Paris
LA MUSIQUE – AVEC ET SANS MEUBLES, with Franz West, Vienna.
OSKAR-VON-MILLER STRASSE 16, artist book with Michael Riedel, Dennis Loesch, Niklas Schechinger, Hank Schmidt in der Beek
APPLAUSE, work in progress with Raymond Pettibon, Los Angeles.
SOZIAL ROMANTISMUS, artist book by Véronique Bourgoin with a text by Juli Susin (M. Suzuki) and Roberto Ohrt (Dr.Dou). Montreuil, Salzburg, Vienna
2004 – 1724, artist book with Jason Rhoades, with texte by Gianfranco Sanguinetti, in co-production with Hauser&Wirth, Los Angeles/Montreuil
PENHAUS, artist book with Andy Hope 1930, Montreuil
2004 – 2005, NOMADENOASE GALLERY a sculpture by Lutz Kruger produced by Silverbridge installed, 3 rue de Trois Portes, Paris, (at Marion Meyer), with a series of show programs :
2004 – L’IMAGE DE LA JEUNESSE UN JOUR DE FÊTE, with Raymond Pettibon, Véronique Bourgoin, André Butzer, Andy Hope 1930, Lutz Krüger, Birgit Megerle, Francis Picabia, Charlet Kugel, Sara Glaxia, Juli Susin…
2005 – TIME BANNERS, SUMMONING, installation with Andy Hope 1930 (Nomadenoase gallery, 3 rue des 3 portes)
LES CINQ, installation of Shit Plug with Jason Roadhes and Paul McCarthy (Nomadenoase gallery, 3 rue des 3 portes)
MIX-MUNCH with Nadira Hussein, Grems aka Supermicro, Cédric Virassamy aka Dr. Looz, Clement Lavenant aka Tex, Maja Korner, Linda Bilda, Autopsyfilms, Martin Kippenberger, Tobias Hauser, Nicolas Delbard, Edward Munch (Nomadenoase gallery, 3 rue des 3 portes)
Matière Première, revue by Juli Susin, with all participant artists, Paris
MEMOIRES (special edition), with Jason Rhoades, with a performance during the exhibition Dionysiac, Beaubourg, Paris
FOREIGN BIRDS with Jochen Lempert, Thilo Heinzmann, Mick Peter, (Nomadenoase gallery, Fortescue Avenue), London
EX IN with Marc Räder, Eva Haule, Jochen Lempert, Friedl Kubelka, Lutz Krüger, Charlet Kugel, Peter Dressler, Véronique Bourgoin, l’Atelier Reflexe & Schule für künstlerische Fotografie Gallery Fotohof, Salzburg – Austria, Gallery Maeght, Barcelona – Spain and a book with texts by Frank Horstmann, Roberto Ohrt, and Juli Susin.
TRANSCONTINENTAL NOMADENOASE, a sculpture by Lutz Krüger in a wing of the Sheephole Madinah from Jason Rhoades, produced and directed by Silverbridge & Jason Rhoades with a programm of travelling shows :
2005 – Los Angeles/Transcontinental Nomadenoase, Art Basel Miami Beach Gabriele Senn Galerie(Vienna) with Véronique Bourgoin, André Butzer, Michael Conrads, Lucy Dodd, Skyler Haskard, Stef Heidhues, Alex Heim, Andreas Hofer, Wendell M.kling, Charlet Kugel, Jelvis, Jonathan Meese, Raymond Pettibon, Antonia Puscas, Seo Reuss, Roberto Ohrt, Elfie Semotan, Grems aka Supermicro, Juli Susin, Una Szeemann, Taeglichdigital, Paul Theriault, Annemarie Weber, Zlatan Vukosavljevic
2006 – THE CHOWCHILLAS, exhibition and performance of works by André Butzer, Véronique Bourgoin, Martin Creed, Lucy Dodd, Mario Garcia-Torres, Melquiades Herrera, Andy Hope 1930, Richard Jackson, Lutz Krüger, Guillermo Kuitca, Charlet Kugel, Jonathan Meese, Raymond Pettibon, Jason Rhoades, Thomas Ruff, Juli Susin, Willard Morgan, Roberto Ohrt, Grems aka Supermicro, amongst others and private parties on the Nappy Dugout, Transcontinental Nomadenoase, El Laboratorio Arte Alameda, Mexico City, Mexico
2006 – CROSS AND STONE, for Inna and Anatoli Susin, by Juli Susin with Tobias Hauser, Steglitz cemetery, Berlin
DR. KERAMIK, Jonathan Meese & Charlet Kugel, Maison de Jorn, Albisola, Italy.
2007 – SWEET TROUBLED SOULS, Andy Hope 1930, installation designed by Juli Susin at Yola Noujaim appartement, Paris, Silverbridge in co-production with Hauser&Wirth
DR. NO, Jonathan Meese artist book designed with Juli Susin
THE ROOM OF FULFILLED DREAMS, by Juli Susin with a collaboration with Jonathan Meese, Monreuil/Steglitz, Berlin.
CITY OF WOMEN with Antoine d’Agata, Linda Bilda, Véronique Bourgoin with a collaboration with Gelatin, Charlet Kugel, Deborah Schamoni’film with Judith Hopf, Lucy Dodd, Risk Hazekamp, Miroslav Tichý, Elfie Semotan, Juli Susin, The Hole Garden, Gallery Fotohof, Salzburg, AustriaJuli Susin, Island / Berlin
2008 – PREDATOR, film by Hekla Dogg Jonsdottir with Juli Susin, Island / Berlin
GOOD NIGHT MISTER MONTE-CRISTO, Véronique Bourgoin and Juli Susin with a book presentation of 1724 by Gianfranco Sanguinetti, CIPM, Vieille Charité, Marseille
2009 – SUMMONING, Andy Hope 1930, artist book designed by Juli Susin, Montreuil
TIN TIME TRACE, artist books installation by Juli Susin, Véronique Bourgoin, Roberto Ohrt with Andy Hope 1930, Bruce Kalberg, Ewa Wojciak, Art Center Los Angeles, USA
2010 – HINTER DEN HÜGELN, Andy Hope 1930, artist book, Montreuil / Berlin
LE BROUILLARD DU DR. KERAMIC, Juli Susin and Jonathan Meese, with Véronique Bourgoin, Guðný Guðmundsdóttir and Robert Ohrt, organized by Maya De Rossi at Jean Claude Binoche’s hotel particulier, Paris
KERAMIK FOG, film by Juli Susin, Albisola / Paris
MYSTERIOUS CRUISE, by Juli Susin, with matali crasset, Birgit Megerle, Guðný Guðmundsdóttir, Beate Günther, Véronique Bourgoin, Anne Lefebvre, Abel Auer, galerie Sophie Scheidecker, Paris
2011 – LES FORMES DU VRAI – Miroslav Tichý, by Gianfranco Sanguinetti, Prague
I’ve come a long way just to see you, artist book with Daniel Johnston, Paris
TIME IS OUT, Angel Yegros, Asunción, Paraguay
MUSEE JARDIN ERNAN PACETTI, group exhibition of ceramics with Dorota Jurczak, Juli Susin, Véronique Bourgoin, Andy Hope 1930, Albisola, Italy
2011- 2013, VRAI OU FAUX?, installation itinerant by Véronique Bourgoin with documents and artworks from Royal Book Lodge archives and collection, Gabriele Senn Gallery, Vienna, Austria, Niklas Schechinger Fine Art & 8. Salon, Hamburg, Germany, Nederlands Fotomuseum, Rotterdam and an artist book with a text by Ursula Panhans-Bülher and interview of Bourgoin by Bernard Marcadé
2012 – NUIT OVALE, Juli Susin, artist book, Paris
LA VIE DANS LA MAISON, artiste book, Lucia Sotnikova and Juli Susin, Berlin
2013 – VOYAGE EN UCHRONIE, film by matali crasset and Juli Susin in collaboration with Julia Rublow.
GRILLAGE UNDERGROUND, film by Juli Susin and Julia Rublow. Actor : with Hamlet Zinkowski and Aleftina, Paris
Garage Center Moscow
MAGNET RIVER, by Juli Susin installation in Niemeyer Museum with André Butzer, Andy Hope 1930, Juli Susin, Véronique Bourgoin, Jonathan Meese, The Curitiba Biennial, Brasil
2014 – VIOLENT NOON, Juli Susin with Capitan Pinturas, Asunción, Fondation Miglarisi, Paraguay
LE SECRET DE BORORO, Juli Susin with Capitan Pinturas and Raisa Aid, Paraguay
SALON COSMOS, installation by Véronique Bourgoin with documents and artworks from Royal Book Lodge archives and Atelier Reflexe, Le 116, Centre d’Art Contemporain Tignous, Montreuil
2015 – THE CASTLE: Chute d’eau hors-champ, Juli Susin and Labyrinthe du temps, Véronique Bourgoin, Fotohof, Salzburg, Autriche.
SERPENTINE ILLUSIONS, artist book with Sara Glaxia, Montreuil.
PRCLN T VLCN, artist book with Guðný Guðmundsdóttir, Montreuil/Berlin.
VOYAGE EN UCHRONIE, artist book by Juli Susin and matali crasset, Paris/Montreuil.
EL CHACO, with Juli Susin’s film “Magnet River”, La Paz, Bolivia.
2016 – IKM – 12M artist book, Juli Susin, Montreuil.
TABLEAU PERIODIQUE DES ELEMENTS USUELS, Artist book by Véronique Bourgoin, Montreuil
2017 – SAPIENS, artist book, by Juli Susin and Lucia Sotnikowa
RENDEZ VOUS, by Susin and Bourgoin with Antoine Aguilar, Maxime Baron, Sarah Bogner, Felix Boekamp, André Butzer, Lilas Carpentier, Nicolas Chardon, Bastien Cosson, Aneta Corovic, Josquin Gouilly-Frossard, Guðny Guðmundsdottir, Anna Gröger, Marcel Hüppauff, David Klasson, Maja Körner, Stina Malmqvist, Philipp Schwalb, André Talborn, We Are The Painters, Emile Vappereau, Josef Zekoff, L’Office, Galerie éphémère, Montreuil.
2018 – INORGANIC, ceramic by Véronique Bourgoin, Juli Susin, Paul Akije, Arnaud Deschin booth, Le Regal’o, independant art place, on the occasion of ArtOrama and Paréidolie, Marseille.
2019 – JOE QUARTZ, designed with a drawing by Andy Hope 1930 of the first two albums by the Joe Quartz Musicians Duo : Jeanne Susin et Olivier Schlegelmilch. Promotion of their European Tour, support concerts for Glen Hansard at Admiralspalast, Berlin, Germany, Palladium, Warszawa, Poland, Sono Centrum, Brno-žabovřesky, Czech Republic, Alte Oper, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany, Kölner Philharmonie, Cologne, Germany, Cirque Royal, Brussels, Belgium, Skandiascenen, Stockholm, Sweden, Amager Bio/ BETA, København, Denmark, Konninklijk Theater Carré, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Barbican Centre, London, United Kingdom, Columb’s Hall, Derry, United Kingdom, Vicar Street, Dublin, Ireland.
5ème CHAMBRE, installation and film by Juli Susin for a curatorial proposition of Marisol Rodriguez “La Fenêtre…”, The film is produced in a Flea Market, with Lise Hanich, Jeanne Susin, Antonin Tri-Hoang, François Lecoq, Jack Le Kamic…
HOTEL LAUTREAMONT, Véronique Bourgoin and Juli Susin, Larchmont Hotel, New York City
2021 – IT’S ABOUT THE LINE, Véronique Bourgoin and Juli Susin and a presentation of Popline Fichot’s fanzines and editions, Multiple, MAD, Fondation Fiminco, Romainville Multiple, MAD
2022 – LA MAQUETTE BLANCHE, Les Incertifiables chapitre 1, in cooperation with André Butzer, an exhibition with Alexandra Tretter, Susa Jane, Jayme Burtis, Véronique Bourgoin, André Butzer, Juli Susin, Salaeina Coulibali, Eva Lederer, Thomas Grötz, Ulrich Wulff, La Guillotine, Montreuil.
