documenta 14: Daybook
Adding Complexity for Art Lovers
The exhibition guide to documenta 14 employs a dual chronology that imbues the ‘here and now’ of contemplating art with greater complexity. First, the duration of the exhibition is mirrored in the time taken to read the book, with the days of documenta 14 replacing the page numbers. They are placed at the top edge of each right-hand page in a calendar layout, so that the number of double pages in the book matches the number of days the show ran. Second, all the artists involved – each of whom is introduced with a picture and text on a double page – were asked to name a date from history that is important to their work. Those dates are each displayed in an identical black rectangle at the bottom left of a double page, with a small picture and a brief explanatory text. They are arranged in reverse chronological order and so dictate the order in which the artists appear in the book. The highly conceptual design adds value to the exhibition and at the same time creates a distinct atmosphere. An introduction headed ‘Dear Reader’ elucidates the design concept and guides the reader into the book.
