The second issue explores how reversibility intersects with alternative ways of thinking. For Greek-German artist Michail Pirgelis, who designed the cover, reversibility is akin to the joker in a deck of cards. In a series of short texts, Haydée Touitou and Colin Stokes introduce tongue-in-cheek language through palindrome poetry and a satirical list of mundane objects, paired with performative photographs from Fischli/Weiss’ Equilibrium series. Joana Avillez brings childlike humor to her comic strip “Bloomerang,” while Tobias Hoffknecht’s mirrored renderings create shifting microcosms through changing perspectives.
A 1997 interview between Andrea Zittel and Theodora Vischer highlights simplicity and adaptability in multifunctional design, echoed in Giorgio Mastinu’s exploration of Enzo Mari’s work. Restoration and climate-focused notes by Laura Kugel and Quincy Childs emphasize the role of time in reversibility. Wade Guyton expands painting through digital technologies with mirrored canvases, alongside Duncan Hannah’s portrait of Italian film star Laura Antonelli gazing into a mirror.
As this issue shows, reversibility offers both freedom and new possibilities—an idea captured in Quincy Childs’ question: “What are the directives for reversible design?” The possibilities seem endless.