On the occasion of the release of jaune, geel, gelb, yellow. Monochrome by Jap Sam Books a special book event will be held on March 9th at the Centraal Museum. Join us for this gathering with the artist, authors and publisher.

Antonis Pittas has long been researching the visual language and legacy of modernism and its promise for a better, more egalitarian and democratic world for all. However, the urge for total renewal also contributed to total destruction. In 2019 Pittas was an artist in residence at the Van Doesburg House, the former home and studio of Theo van Doesburg, just outside of Paris. His residency coincided with the widespread yellow vest protests in France. Although the demonstrations seemed visually united by the yellow vests, the protestors’ motivations for change were extremely diverse. Pittas moved from the urgency of the protests outside on the streets to the historical context and the private sphere of the Van Doesburg House. It brought him to investigate the legacy of modernism through a political lens, culminating into a solo exhibition at the Centraal Museum (which was on view until February 6th) and an autonomous publication, published by Jap Sam Books. 
 
Both the exhibition and the publication are characterized by reflective yellow foil, which is a material generally used for traffic barriers and road signs. It evokes associations with danger, visibility, warning, protection, toxicity, safety, and control. The title jaune, geel, gelb, yellow is borrowed from Van Doesburg’s Dadaist magazine Mécano, which has been published 100 years ago. The exhibition and the publication examine the failure, collapse and historization of the modernist ideals espoused by Theo van Doesburg, set against the current political backdrop of mass protest.

The book is for sale through the website of Jap Sam Books.

The book launch will be in English.