This artist book is Block’s latest project exploring the philosophy of finance. It has a dual interpretive nature it is both a catalogue of an art exhibition of the artist’s Cipher works based on auctioned works, and on the other it is a pseudo auction catalogue.

The exhibition of the same title which is fully documented in this volume consisted of Ciphers paintings and sculptures based on previously auctioned works. This selection of Ciphers was presented in the form of a full scale auction house preview exhibition. Link

This publication engages from within the conventions of the print genre of the auction catalogue, playing with its codes of value production. “The genre is surely an apex of the sublime of desire in material culture” - Rene Glete.

The artist book also features an interview with the collectors by Auction Specialist Vincente Orengo, the artist’s “Notes On Ciphers 2018-2024”, as well as provenance and literature citations for all works referenced.