23 by Magdalena Wysocka & Claudio Pogo

The artists will be signing the book during POLYCOPIES

23 is a photobook by Outer Space Press, the duo of Magdalena Wysocka and Claudio Pogo. 2026 marks ten years of their partnership, and for it they xeroxed twenty-three of their books. Those books contain 2,026 pages in total, and 23 has exactly 23% of that. Layout, editing and printing were done with two machines only, a Xerox WorkCentre 7425 and a Risograph MZ770. No computers were involved. The book comes in a nearly anonymous grey cardboard box, with one picture on the front and the number 23 on the back.

Human DNA consists of two strands of 23 chromosomes, and Outer Space Press says this publication is its DNA. Open the box and there is no cover, only a fragile book printed entirely in black and white riso. Its form draws on the DIY and bootleg culture of the 80s and 90s. The edit may or may not have been done with less than 23% of intention.

The book is dedicated to Jodi Stutz, who photocopied her butt on an office Xerox in 1980 and was fired for it, an accidental pioneer of office-machine resistance. The artists add that 23% of Xerox printers in offices break because of people photocopying their butts, a fact confirmed by nothing more credible than The Mega Book of Useless Information.