This second volume in the Parachute collection gathers together texts (selected from the first 25 years of the magazine’s publication history) around the theme of ‘Performance and Performativity’.

In 1975, a small group of discontented members of the international art community in the Canadian province of Quebec posed the following question: ‘What do we know of contemporary art outside of Quebec, in Canada or abroad?’

By way of an answer, the cutting-edge magazine Parachute was launched, founded by Chantal Pontbriand and France Morin.

Artists such as Jeff Wall, Bill Viola, Stan Douglas, Matthew Barney and many others, had the first significant critical reception of their work in Parachute.

Similarly, figures such as Douglas Crimp, Hal Foster, Reesa Greenberg, and Laura Mulvey published highly pertinent essays in the journal early on in their careers.

This book is part of the Documents series, co-published with Les presses du réel and dedicated to critical writings.