And/Or: On Contradiction in the Work of Jan van Toorn Extended

Kuijpers, Els; Jan van Toorn

ISBN 10: 9462081115 / ISBN 13: 9789462081116

Published by nai010 publishers, Rotterdam, 2013

About this Item

Open spine softcover, 87 pages : color illustrations ; 23 cm. Fine, clean, crisp, no internal marks. Along with Wim Crouwel, Karel Martens and Walter Nikkels, Jan van Toorn belongs to the generation of designers who determined the look of Dutch graphic design in the 1970s and 80s. His socially engaged design practice is founded on a notion of communication based on democratic reciprocity and solidarity with the public. In contrast to prevailing forms of visual communication, Van Toorn's visual journalism establishes meaning in dialogue with the viewer and reader. In her book "and/or", on contradiction in the work of Jan van Toorn, design publicist Els Kuijpers gives insight into Van Toorn's methodology. The author employs various academic methods, journalistic strategies and rhetorical figures for her own objective: breaking through stereotype images. The book was created in close collaboration between the author and designer. With its countless digressions and derailments, the layered text is comparable to the visual designs of Van Toorn himself; the layered structure of the book's design follows Kuijpers' literary enterprise.

Seller Inventory # JHJ_2023_03_21_10

Bibliographic Details

• Title: And/Or: On Contradiction in the Work of Jan van Toorn Extended
• Publisher: nai010 publishers, Rotterdam
• Publication Date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9462081115
• ISBN 13: 9789462081116
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • Graphic Design

About this title

Synopsis

Alongside Wim Crouwel, Karel Martens and Walter Nikkels, Jan van Toorn (born 1932) was instrumental in determining the look of Dutch graphic design in the 1970s and 1980s. Van Toorn’s designs prompt among their viewers a more careful and questioning view of art, communication and media. His is an art of oppositions: at the same time as he questions journalism, he invokes its processes; black-and-white images are spliced together with color pictures; his own handwriting interrupts bold, authoritative typefaces. In And/Or Els Kuijpers provides insight into van Toorn’s methodologies and intentions. Created in close collaboration between author and designer, the text is comparable to the visual designs of van Toorn himself, with countless digressions and derailments.