Daphne Ahlers. Die Würflerin
This slender square catalogue of works by the Hamburg artist Daphne Ahlers features sculptures of various different kinds, gracefully arranged so as to pose questions about the artistic presentation of objects and the value that is placed upon them. It makes a mysterious first impression: the white book block bears four identical images of a white ribbon tied in a bow against a green background, as well as two green edges, calling to mind a gift-wrapped present. A number of exhibition views, each displayed singly on a double page with a broad white border, show Ahlers’s fragile fabric sculptures. Following an essay laid out in a wide column in a sans-serif typeface, a series of smaller wall-mounted objects are presented individually in uniform photographs as if they were pieces of jewellery. Two simple image layouts are repeated in a rhythmical pattern, while the page numbers are constantly placed in different locations, making for an interesting typographical detail. In contrast to the luxurious presentation, the relatively stiff paper and cardboard cover bring more of the feel of a low-budget production. From a distance, the catalogue is reminiscent of art publications of the 1970s but with a new, contemporary form.
