On The Poverty of Student Life
Dry needle etching on 16 copper plates.
First published in 1966 at the University of Strasbourg by students of the university and members of the Internationale Situationniste. A few students elected to the student union printed 10,000 copies with university funds. The copies were distributed at the official ceremony marking the beginning of the academic year. The student union was promptly closed by court order.
Dries made a copy of the version published in 2000 by Black & Red in Detroit, engraving the mirrored words in copper by hand. One successful complete print was made but kept private. The copper plates were put on view on a few occasions, showing the potential of reprinting while hiding the text in its mirrored form and golden copper shine. This to question the relevance of the pamphlet after 50 years and to highlight the status quo of many of the brought up issues.