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Walravens’ book and concurrent installation at the Palais des Beaux-Arts reveal an obsessional, categorical concern with the colour black. The book takes the exhibition to another level. As an object, it is a clear indication of the artist’s intent, virtually functioning as an encyclopedia on the variations of one colour. Each page in the book is black, serving as a background for colour charts, figures depicting the process of depth perception and a series of quotes about the application and formation of the colour. For Walravens, black is the starting point of his artistic activity, which mixes scientific determinism and aesthetic scepticism in equal amounts. Ref.1

Black on black. Charts and a series of pithy phrases disappear into an inky abyss.. Ref.3

Daniël Walravens ( 1944 Créteil, France) lives and works near Paris. He became a colour designer and produced numerous colour charts and cards for industry. Ref.4

Imschoot Uitgevers In 1987 publishing house Imschoot (Ghent- Belgium) started an exceptional series of artists’ books made by international artists (Giovanni Anselmo, Sol LeWitt, John Baldessari, Lawrence Weiner, Hanne Darboven, Robert Barry, Christian Boltanski, Dan Graham, a.o.). Ref.5
In addition to the regular softcover edition (500 to 1000 copies), a deluxe hardcover edition was also issued in a very limited edition, numbered and signed by the artists.
The publishing house ceased its activities in 2006.

References

• Ref.1: Imschoot, uitgevers Catalogue 1993-1994, Artists’ books
• Ref.2: IM-series The IM-series is a collection of artists’ books, published on the occasion of the exhibition series “Affinités Sélectives” at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, organized by Bernard Marcadé. The artists were given complete freedom to develop their project, not necessarily matching their exhibition. A constant format of 14,8 x 21 cm. was adopted.
• Ref.3: Imschoot, uitgevers [2002] Catalogue
• Ref.4: domaine-chaumont.fr
• Ref.5: Johan Pas (Een essay door -), Het kunstenaarsboek in België: de voorzet tot een geschiedenis., Kunstenpunt