Reality Check – book

In 2025, Museum MORE celebrated its tenth anniversary with the exhibition Reality Check – 10 Years of MORE, 10 Years of Realism (February 16 – June 9). The exhibition brought together the latest developments in Dutch Realism, presenting work by more than fifty contemporary artists. From emerging talents to established names and working across a wide range of media, all selected works were created in the Netherlands during the museum’s first decade.
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Book design
Dana Dijkgraaf
Print production
Waanders Uitgeverij (CHECK)

Concept
The exhibition was structured around four themes: Self / Other, Figure / Form, Object / Subject, and Global / Local. Each theme was based on the idea that realism reflects the world around us and, in doing so, reflects our own perspectives and position. The visitor journey began close to the individual with Self / Other, focusing on personal narratives. In Figure / Form, attention shifted to what can be perceived and observed in shape and appearance. Object / Subject explored what exists beyond the individual, while Global / Local addressed broader reflections on society and the world. Within each theme, the paired contrasts emphasized interaction and tension. The concept of reflection, both literal and conceptual, formed the connecting thread throughout the exhibition.

What did we create?
For both the book and the exhibition, a clear, friendly, and contemporary typographic language was developed. Each chapter opens with a spread combining the title and an artwork. Titles appear in carefully chosen colors and include subtly flipped letters, playing with the idea of reflection and the way readers perceive words. It highlights the fascinating ability of the human brain to read and interpret text even when visual information is altered. This subtle visual gesture functions as an elegant metaphor for the exhibition’s central theme: how we perceive and interpret reality.

Each artist is presented through text, large images, and a distinctive title color, creating rhythm and clarity throughout the publication.

Sparkles
The book cover features a soft-touch material with holographic foil, adding a tactile and visual layer to the experience. The shifting colors in the reflective title offer an inviting first impression. Ten years of Realism in the Netherlands unfold as a vibrant and multifaceted story, ready to be discovered and explored.

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