Hold That Thought,
Johannes Langkamp
Johannes Langkamp
Hold That Thought is a walk through the work of visual artist Johannes Langkamp. This book is a reflection of an archive with (digital) works of art, experiments, (kinetic) models and their documentation. In it, moving images are brought to a standstill, only to be put in motion again by its reader. Walk, run, detour, stroll. Discover this book about motion, in motion.
Including a text written by Sandra Smets specifically for the book (in NL, DE and EN). Translation by Gabriël Juursema (EN) and Sigrid Kullmann (DE).
Published by Unformed Informed (Publishing) 2022, design by Art Collart. 220 x 300 mm, 144 pages, 4/1 Offset print on Munken Pure Rough 240 gr (cover), EOS 2.0 100 gr (interior), binding: stitch and knot with black thread. Edition of 600, ISBN: 978-9-08299-3-257
Hold That Thought was made possible by 129 donations via voordekunst.nl, st. Droom en Daad, stiching Jaap Harten Fonds, Gemeente Rotterdam, and Cultuurfonds Zuid-Holland.
Order this book
Hold That Thought is also available at KIOSK, Rotterdam (NL), Printroom, Rotterdam (NL), van Gennep, Rotterdam (NL), Stedelijk, Amsterdam (NL), Voorlinden, Wassenaar (NL), Collectie de Groen, Arnhem (NL), Tique, Antwerpen (BE), Motto Books, Berlin (DE), and The Library Project, Dublin (IE). Please contact them about the current stock.
Award
Best Dutch Book Design 2022
The Best Book Designs From All Over The World 2022
The Best Book Designs From All Over The World 2022
Hold That Thought won Best Dutch Book Design 2022 (professional and student jury), and was shortlisted as The Best Book Designs From All Over The World 2022.
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'Inventive in its simplicity is a good way to describe this book. [...] Hold That Thought plays with movement and perspective – two things central to artist Johannes Langkamp’s videos and kinetic sculptures. But then translated for the – still – setting of a book. The artist often makes artworks that are bound to a specific location, which means the decision here to view the book as a space results in a strong concept. Here too, we are dealing with a ‘site-specific’ work: the central section houses a hand-folded pop-up, an intimate and surprising gesture. The jury were impressed by how the slight transparency of the paper transmits the idea of movement and standing still. As the illustrations on previous pages shine through, we get a sensation of movement through the pages, while at the same time it feels as if we are holding onto something: hold that thought. The printing in alternating full colour and black-and-white pages was initially the result of financial necessity, the makers have written. Here, necessity has truly proven the mother of invention: this provides a pleasing rhythm, guiding the reader’s attention. Using simple means, a convincing translation has been made of the artist’s spatial, kinetic work.’
'Inventive in its simplicity is a good way to describe this book. [...] Hold That Thought plays with movement and perspective – two things central to artist Johannes Langkamp’s videos and kinetic sculptures. But then translated for the – still – setting of a book. The artist often makes artworks that are bound to a specific location, which means the decision here to view the book as a space results in a strong concept. Here too, we are dealing with a ‘site-specific’ work: the central section houses a hand-folded pop-up, an intimate and surprising gesture. The jury were impressed by how the slight transparency of the paper transmits the idea of movement and standing still. As the illustrations on previous pages shine through, we get a sensation of movement through the pages, while at the same time it feels as if we are holding onto something: hold that thought. The printing in alternating full colour and black-and-white pages was initially the result of financial necessity, the makers have written. Here, necessity has truly proven the mother of invention: this provides a pleasing rhythm, guiding the reader’s attention. Using simple means, a convincing translation has been made of the artist’s spatial, kinetic work.’
Exhibition
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Sep 30, 2023 - Jan 7, 2024
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Sep 30, 2023 - Jan 7, 2024
Every year the Stedelijk and the Best Dutch Book Designs present the most outstanding book designs of the past twelve months. Each was chosen for the excellence of its design, typography, binding, lithography, and balance of form and content. A selection of poetry, art, photography, and architecture books, as well as non-fiction and children's books, made the final cut. In addition to the 33 jury-selected designs, the exhibition also presents the student jury’s pick.
Crowdfunding
December 2021
December 2021
Hold That Thought has been made possible by 129 donations via voordekunst.nl. Thank you so much for your contribution!