Fw: Hans Gremmen

REview Commissioned by Zefir7 | Febuary 2008

Ten years ago the photo book still seemed to be attainable for the giants of this earth only. In the meantime, new and cheaper techniques have given an impulse to the private issue of small collections by young photographers. This activity provides an interesting niche for graphic designers. 

Fw: 6

Hans Gremmen showed us how fruitful co-operation with photographers can be. During his presentation he gave the audience an exquisite taste of exotic printed matter, full of wonderful photography. We saw very special technical and process related finds, as well as old and new techniques. 

 What makes him differ from others? He put question marks on a book presentation of his, where his design was praised instead of the contents of the book itself. He enters on a joint venture with photographers, visual artists, architects and museums, with great respect for the essence and the particular handwriting of the principal. He restrains his interference as a designer in way as modest as possible. He manipulates the publication, not through decorative additions, but through image editorship and typography. His co-operation with photographers Dieuwertje Komen, Karin Krijgsman and Petra Stavast is representative of this. The magazines they publish are impressive in their simple beauty.

Provinciale Prijs beeldende kunstThat simplicity is deceptive. By means of a special selection of paper, ways of binding and folding, Gremmen adds extra richness, making each issue into a qualitatively outstanding object. His insight into the printing process ensures a unique approach. People in the academies tend to look down on this, but Gremmen shows that training in a graphics college can be a great asset. He was apprenticed to a printer and there handled the press. With that knowledge at the back of his mind he now carries out simple manipulations as a designer—to great effect. In this way he solves a perennial dilemma, in passing: what image do you select for the cover of a catalogue? The best, or the most comprehensive? For the St Joost Academy, where he studied himself, he simply had the printer carry on each page of the interior onto the cardboard, so that each picture could be used once as cover.

For the annual report of the Zeeuws Museum he made a fold in the cover, which could house one of the many thousands of picture-postcards from the museum shop, closed many years ago. Photographer Bob van der Vlist was provided with a website onto which the visitor can download his street views of Rotterdam and print them as a catalogue.

Gremmen renders his patrons a great service. Each and every issue which he shared with us this night proves that a good graphic designer is indispensable. In this quality he consistently explores the borders between serviceability, added value, and idiosyncrasy, without losing sight of the interests of other parties. The question is, what will his next step be? We are hoping for a publishing shop.