Creating Carli Hermès – the book
From Reflections, a series of non-commissioned work.
Finishing up a book is exciting and somewhat melancholic at the same time. This is the story behind the creation of Carli Hermès - the book.
The moment we write this, we’re only days away from the arrival and launch of a brand new book, initiated and designed by MENDO. The book is a retrospective from Carli Hermès, one of the best photographers in The Netherlands.
Therefore, this is an exciting time and a somewhat melancholic time as well. Because finishing up this book means that in a few days this book does no longer just belong to us, but to everyone.
The book is called Carli Hermès and the subtitle is Three Decades of Uncompromising Photography, because, well, that is exactly what this is. When we first sat down we almost immediately agreed that this shouldn’t become another ‘all that I’ve created in the past’ book. Carli wanted to show that these three decades are all but an end station. Therefore we decided to break up the book in three chapters: Carli’s Classics, The Archive and Carli Now.
Chapter one: Carli’s Classics
The first chapter, Carli’s Classics, contains a selection of images that Carli is known for. This is a wonderful selection of commercial and autonomous works he has created in the course of his career. Carli’s Classics include Faithless’ Maxi Jazz and Carli’s modern interpretation of Vermeer’s Milmaid.
Chapter two: The Archive
The initial idea for chapter two, The Archive, was for Carli to take us through some of his personal favorite images – which aren’t necessarily his classics. But Carli came up with a much better approach. He selected negatives, polaroids, magazine covers, printouts and what not from his actual archive and photographed these in a very intriguing way. By doing so, Carli almost literally gives us a tour through his personal archive.
To us, this is what distinguishes Carli Hermès from many modern-day photographers. This shows that he knows what it takes to make a good photo.
Chapter two
Polaroids, negatives and covers take us on a tour through Carli's impressive archive.
‘There is a big difference between a close call and vulgar, and Carli knows exactly where the former fades into the latter.’
‘There is a big difference between a close call and vulgar, and Carli knows exactly where the former fades into the latter.’
Chapter three: Carli Now
Chapter three, Carli Now, contains a series of images that were taken especially for this book. And again, Carli was able to impress with fascinating sensuality and erotic liberation. As Narda van ‘t Veer, friend and agent at Unit c.m.a., puts it, “There is a big difference between a close call and vulgar, and Carli knows exactly where the former fades into the latter.”
Chapter three
Carli Now, a series of images that were taken especially for this book.
Design of the book
Firm images ask for firm design. We opted for the strength of simplicity, with a color palette that exists only of red, black and white and on rock solid type family called Brandon Grotesk. With its 308 x 250 mm the size of the book is generous but not exorbitant and the, may we say breath-taking cover has a smooth, tactile finish.
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An intense project has come to an end. At the same time, a new phase is about to begin. A phase in which we share our book with the world. And we are very excited to see and hear what you think of Carli Hermes, Three Decades of Uncompromising Photography.
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