Zwei
Client: Hubertus Hamm
Format: Book
The magazine ZWEI is a little gem. Only rarely does one hold a magazine that is so carefully compiled, implemented and executed. Compiled … as far as the contents – which grapple with “democracy” – are concerned; implemented … in terms of typography and photography; and executed … when it comes to the composition of material and form. The cover, made of book binding board, is embossed with a black ZWEI set in Times. Incidentally, this binding comprises 3⁄4 of the entire work. The inside pages are thin, very thin, translucent, 40 gm Bible paper, complete with Times as body text and display font. The typography is that of a book – fine and cleanly composed. No typographical negligence interferes with the left-justified typeface. The dual dust-covers are black – they offer a break for the beholder. And in the magazine section, the images appear where the text ends … just on quite different pages – namely pale pink ones at the back. One really has to (be)hold it in one’s hands.
ZWEI “Magazin fuer Denkanstoesse” is the second edition of a book/magazine series that photographer Hubertus Hamm has published privately. This publication – with a limited edition of 1000 – caters to a monothematic arrangement each time and is only distributed to a select group of people. In order to be as suitable to the contents as possible, the outward appearance is changed from one edition to the next, as are the format and paper. Issue ZWEI is devoted to the subject of “qualified democracy” and stands out in particular for its workmanship. The cover is an 800 gram paperboard container in gray; the contents consist of 64 pages of finely printed Bible paper. The design is extremely clear and austere. White space, empty pages and black areas all help to shape the creative framework. ✐