We sought to find a visual language that could embody the unique traces of his art.
– Gustavo Pique, Design Director
Creating an art catalogue is probably every designer’s dream. But when quantity and budget are limited and the art in question is somewhere between sculpture and installation, you’re in for quite the creative challenge. That’s the situation that the team at Brazilian design studio Casa Rex faced when crafting an art catalogue for that country’s Rodrigo Sassi. They ended up taking their inspiration from the art itself, using substantial materials and a unique perspective along the way.
The catalogue is on the brief side – just 20 pages featuring photographs of Sassi’s work – and simply printed offset 4/4 color, but…on a 65 lb. cover stock, making it feel quite substantial – not unlike the artist’s sculptures. The pages were then saddle stitched. And here is the fabulous twist to this catalogue.
A super-thick cardstock – 88 pt. to be precise – was die cut with the unique and recurrent shape of Sassi’s works of art, cut 5/8” (1.5 cm) shorter than the catalogue, and mounted onto the actual piece. The cardboard was literally used to create a “window” into the art. Another piece of equally thick cardboard on the back of the catalogue rounds out the piece. The final touch: a custom rubber stamp that adds the artist’s name to the cover.
Casa Rex created a very stunning, substantial and memorable piece that offers us a window into one artist’s unique vision.
