Over two consecutive trips between 2019 and 2023, artists Wouter Van De Voorde and Brad Feuerhelm met in Charleroi, in the former’s native country. After corresponding from Australia and Slovakia, the two artists met in person in Charleroi to explore the area and follow their shared interests in architecture and post-industrial landscapes.
Charleroi was chosen because it is close to Van de Voorde’s ancestral home and would offer both artists an exploration of former industrial glory. Charleroi includes several abandoned and semi-active sites, including former steel and coal plants. During the trip, the artists navigated the local terrain and made images, deciding to return a few years later, post-COVID, to continue the project. The result is Min de Rien, which examined the idea of post-industrial economy and geography, but also plays on the impressions of producing work in such environments.
If you ask one artist what it is about, the answer might suggest nothing more than a jaunt through the landscape in front of the camera, pulling images with a good friend. The other may respond that it is an exercise in documenting the downturn status of industrial sites, such as those found in Charleroi, and asking what the future history of work may look like and where all of that human energy goes in the age in which jobs, both manual and otherwise, are in decline. Both are correct, and both find a brooding visualization in Mine de Rien.
Mine de Rien is an artist book. Minimal Editions produced this handmade book with the nimble hands of Tamara Vujotic Coupe and Manolis Coupe-Kalormiris, who also helped edit it. We will sell the book in various bundles, with extra prints available for purchase. Please note that everything is handmade, analog, and will take time to produce. We will begin pre-orders in September with incentives for early-bird buyers. The book will ship in December. Some copies may be available for Paris at Polycopies. With this in mind, we'll ship the majority in December.
Handmade Artist Book edition of 150
Page count: 128 (w/o the endpapers)
Cover: Faux Linen with Cement & Sand Spray mount
Binding: French Link Stitch binding, hand-bound
Obi Band: Reproduced mechanical blueprint from Charleroi site
A Note about analog prints: Both artists work in the darkroom with expired paper, and often the chemical process creates an “imprecise” series of features in the print, from dust specks to chemical coloring. Prints may also be lighter or darker than anticipated; Feuerhelm's prints, for example, are much darker in person, as per his printing subjectivity. Please bear in mind that this is part of the printing process, which is slightly different from the book.
Pre-Order September 15-October 15
Pre-Order Incentive
One Print+ Signed Hand-Made Book SHIPPING INCLUDED
Hand-Made Book Edition of 150, signed bookplate
+ One signed 8x10 analog silver print from either artist at random, Edition of 25 per artist
130 Euros (shipping in December). Shipping Included
Yes, that is the book plus an analog darkroom print.
Over two consecutive trips between 2019 and 2023, artists Wouter Van De Voorde and Brad Feuerhelm met in Charleroi, in the former’s native country. After corresponding from Australia and Slovakia, the two artists met in person in Charleroi to explore the area and follow their shared interests in architecture and post-industrial landscapes.
Charleroi was chosen because it is close to Van de Voorde’s ancestral home and would offer both artists an exploration of former industrial glory. Charleroi includes several abandoned and semi-active sites, including former steel and coal plants. During the trip, the artists navigated the local terrain and made images, deciding to return a few years later, post-COVID, to continue the project. The result is Min de Rien, which examined the idea of post-industrial economy and geography, but also plays on the impressions of producing work in such environments.
If you ask one artist what it is about, the answer might suggest nothing more than a jaunt through the landscape in front of the camera, pulling images with a good friend. The other may respond that it is an exercise in documenting the downturn status of industrial sites, such as those found in Charleroi, and asking what the future history of work may look like and where all of that human energy goes in the age in which jobs, both manual and otherwise, are in decline. Both are correct, and both find a brooding visualization in Mine de Rien.
Mine de Rien is an artist book. Minimal Editions produced this handmade book with the nimble hands of Tamara Vujotic Coupe and Manolis Coupe-Kalormiris, who also helped edit it. We will sell the book in various bundles, with extra prints available for purchase. Please note that everything is handmade, analog, and will take time to produce. We will begin pre-orders in September with incentives for early-bird buyers. The book will ship in December. Some copies may be available for Paris at Polycopies. With this in mind, we'll ship the majority in December.
Handmade Artist Book edition of 150
Page count: 128 (w/o the endpapers)
Cover: Faux Linen with Cement & Sand Spray mount
Binding: French Link Stitch binding, hand-bound
Obi Band: Reproduced mechanical blueprint from Charleroi site
A Note about analog prints: Both artists work in the darkroom with expired paper, and often the chemical process creates an “imprecise” series of features in the print, from dust specks to chemical coloring. Prints may also be lighter or darker than anticipated; Feuerhelm's prints, for example, are much darker in person, as per his printing subjectivity. Please bear in mind that this is part of the printing process, which is slightly different from the book.
Pre-Order September 15-October 15
Pre-Order Incentive
One Print+ Signed Hand-Made Book SHIPPING INCLUDED
Hand-Made Book Edition of 150, signed bookplate
+ One signed 8x10 analog silver print from either artist at random, Edition of 25 per artist
130 Euros (shipping in December). Shipping Included
Yes, that is the book plus an analog darkroom print.
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