The A5 booklets were by the front desk on arrival, and each had a different cover of choice, each depicting one of the artists in the exhibition. There was also the choice to select one with all four artists images squared together. The initial choice in itself is a great way to encourage people in and get them excited, they can make a decision on which they feel is most visually stimulating. The paper choice is similar to newsprint, an off white yellowy colour thats perhaps slightly thicker but light and easy to carry.
Upon closer inspection the brochure is more like a catalog for the events and exhibitions happening in the gallery over the next few months, which is great as people can read about the exhibition they are visiting and then flick through to see if theres relevant events they have an interest in. The front cover is informative, with contents along the bottom so you can navigate easily to what you wish to see. The whole catalog is monochrome, perhaps chosen for printing costs, but I think it lends itself well to the work. Despite the majority of the work being colour imagery, the black and white take makes them all more uniform and the aesthetics work well together, whilst still differing from one another. The first page introduced the prize in a small paragraph and then each artist and their themes and explorative elements. it gives an initial context which is then continued in the actual exhibition space on the walls, which I think is good as there isn’t too much information to take in from the catalog. On each page, as it spans the calendar and events for the coming months, there are also a line of relevant talks and tours which is helpful and saves people having to go to the events page. It’s also good promotion.
Overall I think the size and feel of the catalog adds a value that perhaps the ‘Window’ press release didn’t have. It’s small enough to hold, and fit into your pocket without being bent, unlike the A4 sheet from Hauser and Wirth. The amount of information available also makes viewers more likely to keep it so they can refer back and the choice of cover and large image on the front makes it attractive and something worth keeping. I defiantly prefer the booklet approach to press release/cataloging although I do understand that the more work and information, the more paper needs, hence why Hauser and Wirth perhaps only use a few A4 sheets.
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