Dutch Landscape 26 & 27. Solo Show. Esam Caen-Cherbourg. 06.11.25/28.11.25
Dutch Landscape 26
The project originates from a book found at a market in Amsterdam. The original volume consists of 258 pages, structured into 16 sewn signatures of 16 pages each. The book is completely dismantled: the original binding is removed and the signatures are separated into loose sheets.
Each of these signatures becomes the support for a new 16-page book, which is printed and bound independently. Through this process, a single book is transformed into 16 distinct books, establishing a direct relationship between material deconstruction and editorial multiplication.
The project is conceived as a series of 16 different editions. Each edition is printed onto a different found book, provided it maintains the same 16-signature structure, allowing the content to adapt to a specific and pre-existing support.
The book contains 16 drawings made using 16 lines. Each drawing functions as a fragment of a Dutch landscape that cannot be perceived in its entirety. The complete image exists only potentially, distributed across the pages and across the multiple volumes.
The book becomes the image of a landscape you cannot see, but that exists.
Dutch Landscape 27
Dutch Landscape 27 is based on 18 different books found in the Netherlands that had never previously been connected to one another. All of them share the same number of pages. Each book is completely dismantled and transformed into loose sheets, which are later used as the support for printing a new book.
The resulting book consists of 18 pages and contains 18 drawings made from 18 lines. Each drawing functions as a fragment of a broader landscape that cannot be perceived in its entirety, but only page by page. Therefore, the landscape is not presented as a single image, but as a fragmented and distributed construction. The book becomes the image of a landscape you cannot see, but that exists.
The edition is composed of 69 copies. The first page of each of these books comes from the same original book; the same applies to the second page and to the remaining pages. The first copy is composed of the first pages of the 18 books; the second copy, of the second pages of all of them, and so on until copy 69. As a consequence of this system of distribution, each copy is different, constructed from a combination of fragments drawn from the 18 source books.
Books:
1. ijksenaar, Pieter Jan. Amsterdam Verleden 1275–1900, Heden 1900–1950, Toekomst 1950–2000. Voorwoord door Mr. Arn. J. Dáilly, Burgemeester. Amsterdam: H. J. Becht, 1951. 328 p. Linnen band.
2. Borkovský, Ivan. Svatojiřská bazilika a klášter na Pražském hradě. Praha: Academia, 1975. 162 s. Tvrdá vazba.
3. De Groot, Pieter (ed.). Herman Besselaar: Molens van Nederland. Met fotografie van Aart Klein & Hans Samsom, kaarten van F.W. Michels. Amsterdam: onbekende uitgever, 1974. 134 p. Linnen band.
4. Van de Wiel, Bert (ed.). Dommelen : ’t is mer dè ge’t weet. De Kempen (Hapert): Regionaal Historisch Centrum Eindhoven, 1980. 208 p.
5. Pola, Alexander; foto’s Rob de Wind. Wad nu … wat later? De Nederlandse Wadden. Den Haag: Zuidgroep (Zuid Boekprodukties B.V.), [ca. 1978]. 28 × 21 cm. ISBN 978-90-6248-101-9.
6. Berendsen, Anne. Elseviers tegelboek: een internationaal overzicht van de tegel door de eeuwen heen. Amsterdam/Brussel: Elsevier, 1965. 287 p. Linnen band.
7. Coeckelbergh, C., et al. Vogels in Klein-Brabant. Voorkomen en verspreiding. Mechelen: Natuurpunt Studie, 2003. 384 p.
8. Mortier, P. Atlas Maritime. Wuppertal: W. Schwarze, 1977. ca. 175 p. Softcover.
9. South African Railways. Railway Time-Table / Spoorwegtydtafel No. 168: 7th December 1970 until further notice. Johannesburg: South African Railways, 1970.
10. Visser, Elisabeth. Antieke cultuur in beeld. Bussum: Van Dishoeck, [1942]. 2e dr., 176 p.
11. Weitmann, Julius & Korp, Dieter. Die Alte Garde: Sport- und Rennwagen von damals. Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag, 1966. 170 S.
12. De Boer, A. A. Uurwerken: Tijdmeting, antieke klokken, reisklokken, elektrische klokken, horloges. Haarlem: De Haan, 1980. 148 p. ISBN 978-9022842997.
13. Wilsens, Steven & Daulnoye, Jean. Kastelen in Brabant / Châteaux du Brabant. Hasselt: Concentra, 1971. 99–107 p. Ob-long, bil. Nl./Fr., linnen band.
14. Dooijes, Dick & Brattinga, Pieter. A History of the Dutch Poster, 1890–1960. Introductie door Prof. Dr. H. L. C. Jaffé. Amsterdam: Scheltema & Holkema, 1968. 154–156 p. Linnen band met stofomslag. 31 × 24 cm.
15. Albers, L. J. P. Tussen strand en waterland: de laatste tien jaar van de Blauwe Tram in beeld. Deventer: Kluwer Technische Boeken, 1981. 167 p. ISBN 978-9020114027.
16. Bick, H. & Van Schaik, A. W. J. Oecologische visie Randmeren. Advies van de Natuurwetenschappelijke Commissie van de Natuurbeschermingsraad. Utrecht: Natuurbeschermingsraad, 1980. 291 p. + 10 kaartbijlagen.
17. Kuhn, Pieter. De avonturen van Kapitein Rob 8. Haarlem/Amsterdam: Uitgeverij De Vrijheid, 1996. 154 p. ISBN 9056600087.
18. Van der Weel, Heleen. Alle klokken luiden: over carillons en klokkenspelen. Amsterdam: Kruseman, 1979. 135 p. ISBN 978-9023304074.