ArchivesSpace at the University of Iowa

For this piece that is based on a die, Tom Phillips lettered the text in varying numbered circles. the lettering is in the style of his text based wall sculptures where each letter is linked to adjacent ones. The text is the title of the poem "Un Coup de Des Jamais Abolira le Hazard" by Stephane Mallarme. Phillips writes that, " the first line of the foundation poem of chance procedures (and concrete poetry in general), outlines another dilemma which I translate as 'A throw of dice will never do away with chance'. Each dot on these giant dice incorporates the line and through the mysteries arising from the solid geometry of a transparent cube each "throw" gives rise to new configurations as chance plays its second role. Looked at from the sides, from the corners and from above, the cube's symmetry produces illusions and paradoxes of perception, hints of mirrors and fractures appropriate to each of these statements." -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

The title is repetitively printed in light brown color on a tan background in a 45 degree orientation. The tie for which this drawing was done was commissioned on behalf of Unicef, United Nations Children's Fund. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

The title is printed repetetitively in light brown color on a tan background in a 45 degree orientation. The tie was commissioned on behalf of Unicef, United Nations Children's Fund. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

The title is printed repetetitively in light brown color on a tan background in a 45 degree orientation. The tie was commissioned on behalf of Unicef, United Nations Children's Fund. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

This object was formed from by photocopied hand lettered text in the style Phillips uses for his text based sculptures, where each letter is physically linked to adjacent ones. The photocopied sentence of the title, glued onto the cube is repeated twice on each of its surfaces. The Sackner Archive also holds the hand-drawn maquette for this work. The text is by the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

For this piece, Tom Phillips lettered the text in the style he used for his text based wall sculptures. Each letter is linked to adjacent ones. The sentence of the title is repeated twice on each surface of the cube. The text is by the philospher Ludwig Wittgenstein.Phillips writes, "The series of cubes began with a cage of wire made for The Globe Theatre's production of A Winter's Tale. A cage of wire words followed to exemplify Wittgenstein's proposition 'The Limits of My Language are the Limits of My World'. Printing this on an acrylic cube where the inside can be seen and, by an oddity of optics, experienced from the outside seemed to unite the reading of a statement with its perception as a metaphor. Reversing the text on the outside in a later version emphasised the trap of language that Wittgenstein describes." -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

For this maquette, Tom Phillips hand lettered the text in the style he used for his text based wall sculptures. He marked design changes in small, red symbols. Each letter is linked to adjacent ones. The sentence of the title is repeated twice on each surface of the cube and hand-drawn on each surface of the wooden cube. The maquette is slightly smaller than the finished work that is also held by the Sackner Archive. The text is by the philospher Ludwig Wittgenstein. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.