Archetypes and residues

More about the book

Following his first publication, An Inquiry into Meaning and Truth and More, which created an almost cult-like following, Dutch artist Thomas Raat (b. 1979) interleaves ordinary objects such as chairs, doors, mirrors and tables with excerpts from Henry Jamess The Real Thing (1892) in his second design-driven artist book, Archetypes and Residues. Some of the works have found new form under Raats handin Standard, chairs have been resurfaced and arranged in ensembles; the copper kick-plates, handles and locks of doors have been recomposed to read as paintings in Hanging Doors; in Mirror Windows, mirrors have been mysteriously darkened. The large-format publication filled with full-bleed images adopts an auction catalog format, and concludes with an index of the artists works describing the palettes and dimensions of each object reproduced here. By alluding to the two-dimensionality of the printed page, Raat reflects upon his sculptural practice as well as the space within printed matter.