Mexico City-based Artist Juan Caloca intersperses blocks of black text reading “Crisis is not a surprise, but a condition inherent to humanity” or “We regret the slow death of socialism. And of all its ideological trends,” among “I already said Papa Smurf resembled Marx” and “Moreeruditelie.” Untitled Manifesto is heavy-handed in its juxtaposition of philosophical thought and humorous musings, perhaps in hopes of inspiring the idea that the two do not have to be mutually exclusive.
Devoid of any illustration or explanation for each phrase, the book certainly reads as a manifesto, touching on capitalism, the human condition and political action. Caloca’s words are nonsensical at times, which is proven to be intentional by the book’s end, as he cites Google responsible for the Spanish to English translation. “The author believes that the Internet is God, and Google the Holy Spirit–Word of the Lord–and acts accordingly,” he notes. If Caloca’s writing does not at first ring true, it might upon book’s end.
Gato Negro Ediciones publishes the sewn-bound, risograph-printed book.
