COIL journal of the moving image
COIL was a 10 issue journal published between 1995 and 2000 which explored experimental moving image and electronic/digital media created by artists. Founded and edited by Giles Lane, the journal did not theme issues nor did it include an editorial; contributors were invited to ‘intervene’ – to use it as a creative space for exploring different ideas, new creative practices or to offer critiques of contemporary practices. Seeking to publish new voices as well as more established artists (often ignored by the bubble of the yBA BritArt phenomenon), COIL provided a unique platform for artists and documented an alternative vision of practices in the late 1990s. Over 80 different writers were commissioned and published for the journal.
Artist’s projects were commissioned that offered contributors the opportunity to translate their moving image or digital practices to the space of the book. In all 37 projects were commissioned specially for the journal.
COIL was supported throughout its 5 year history by the Arts Council of England’s Film & Video Dept (David Curtis & Gary Thomas), as well as receiving occasional support from Channel 4 TV and the London Film & Video Development Agency.
