[Harry asked me to post this -- some time ago -- so here it is at last.]
"Friends have alerted me to discussion on the British Poetry list of the
(ideological stance of the) work of Ian Hamilton Finlay. As I no longer
have access to the list, I can't contribute directly -- though I oppose
quite strongly attempts to situate him/it as postModern. However, since
folk have been directed to my writing on IHF (thanks Ric), I thought it
might be helpful to offer a (partial) list -- not least as one item is a
major (and little-cited) book on the landscape works. I'm also happy to
enter into debate; my thesis being that IHF's work is best 'read' as a
continuation of modernism, not a contestation of it. I thus disaggree
equally with attempts to paint him as a Tory ruralist (if not Nazi) and
attempts to turn him into a Scottish Jeff Koons (qua lots of PoMo piffle on
him). My 'real' address follows at the foot of this message, which is sent
via John Cayley [-- responses to Harry's snail mail please, not to
'shadoof'].
*Ian Hamilton Finlay, Works in Europe 1972-95* (ed. Pia Simig, photos
Werner Hannappel; Editions Cantz) -- glossing/contextualising/illustrating
a very wide range of 3-D works in the landscape
'Buildings which depict a better world: O. M. Ungers and Ian Hamiton
Finlay' -- essay on utopianism in IHF's recent projects with a German
architect; in *Architectural Design*
'Ian Hamilton Finlay is as hard to pin down as a bead of mercury...' --
leaflet for Durham University Library shows; copies available in the UK by
sending Richard Caddel an SAE; overseas, bribe him suitably
'*Inscription* and the Shipwreck of the Singular' -- Warsaw show catalogue
essay on IHF and the Holocaust
'Minimal Pears' in *Chapman* special IHF double-issue -- essay on
translation as a model for IHF's work
[untitled review = 'Perspectives on Ian Hamilton Finlay'] -- *Burlington
Magazine* review of Cantz IHF *Prints* catalogue, June 1998.
Harry Gilonis, 42a Lowden Road, Herne Hill, London SE24 0BH, UK
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