Tauba Auerbach
One Deck of Cards
Math Functions Suits
New York, NY: DZEK. 2009
Synopsis: Tauba Auerbach designed this limited edition deck of playing cards where the suits have been transformed into math function symbols (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division). The deck utilizes a custom font created by Auerbach as well as backside patterns drawn from Auerbach's 50/50 series. The cards are snugly housed inside an embossed, cloth-covered slipcase that is hand-numbered by the artist.
Category: Multiple
Dimensions (Height x Width x Depth): 10.5 x 7.5 x 3 cm.
Edition 250
Signed: Unsigned and Numbered
Functions uses basic math functions, + - x ÷ as the suits. the face cards are platonic solids
and jokers are ? and 8. instead of using the typical red and black, the suits are black on
a white background or white on a black background, so the deck is half white and black.
this draws on auerbach's previous 50/50 work - a book published by deitch projects consisting
of 100 pages of 100 patterns, 50% white, 50% black. each suit and its counterparts are opposites -
black on white, with subtraction of white on black. these functions also cancel out or counteract
each other mathematically, so they are inversions of both color and function.
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