Baake, Frans. — The Nowhere of Middle.

Enschedé, self-published, 2018, numerous blank pages, 1 central coloured photographic and illustrated fold-out plate in 4 sections by Frans Baake, text and illustrations on dustjacket, printed in 100 numbered and signed copies, original boards with dustjacket, small octavo (15,5 x 11,3 cm.). = Dedicated in felt tip pen “Voor mevr. Vos [signed] Frans 31-12-‘18” on first free endpaper. The dustjacket shows photographs of the uninhabited island Middle Island, also know as Alex Island, which belongs to the isolated archipelago of Tristan da Cunha. Baake has seen the real island from the distance and the dustjacket shows pictures of it, including one showing himself and the island in one photo. During his travels, Frans Baake makes sketches, photos and notes. The journey is then translated into a work of art, namely an artist's book, which he publishes himself in a small edition. In artists' books, the image usually dominates. The countless artist books that Baake has made are full of photos, woodcuts, linocuts, screenprints, collages and texts. The books are not literally about his travels and are therefore not comparable to the way we make our photo album or diary after a holiday. Baake’s way of working is similar in general: he prepares for his voyage, at the actual trip he will make drawings, writings, photographs; in his studio back home these together with his thoughts and ideas will be transformed into books, prints, sketches, portfolios, articles.