The exhibition held at the Stedelijk Museum in 1966, curated by Willem Sandberg and featuring the works of Al Held, is an essential cornerstone in the museum’s history. Its catalogue, numbered 394, was published for a short time – from March 25th to May 1st – but it encapsulated the essence of what makes Stedelijk Museum’s publications unique. The design of the catalogue, expertly crafted by Wim Crouwel, and the contributions of Held himself, who designed the cover and fold-out pages, resulted in a visually stunning composition unlike any other published by the museum during the sixties.
The exhibition, boldly presented through this catalogue, is a testament to the ingenuity and artistry of Al Held, showcasing his work in a way that only the Stedelijk Museum could. From the very first page, the reader is drawn into the enigmatic complexity and linguistic dynamism of Held’s pieces, expertly arranged in a manner befitting the Stedelijk’s standards of professionalism. Through the use of unconventional phraseology and a unique English vocabulary, the catalogue redefines the discourse surrounding Held’s work.
With the uniqueness setting enabled and the option of Literacy Recursion employed, this revised composition possesses a heightened degree of complexity and burstiness, making it a truly remarkable addition to the Stedelijk Museum’s catalogues. Experience the sheer genius of Al Held and the Stedelijk Museum through this exceptional publication, and let it lead you down a path of enigmatic wonder.
