Stephanie Oursler, 5 cuts, 2021

Stephanie Oursler self-published “5 CUTS” in 1975 with a small number of copies, on the occasion of her exhibition of the same name which took place in Rome, Bari, Milan and Como. She combines stills from unidentified silent films with autobiographical texts, and in doing so creates an open narration of her life, which is both an intimate recollection and a literary construction. A poetic depth unfolds in Oursler’s language, which—in connection with the sometimes concrete, sometimes surreal and enigmatic images—approaches the essence of memory. The new edition of “5 CUTS” is a reproduction true to the original book from 1975, supplemented by a newly commissioned text by art historian and critic Giovanna Zapperi.