Andrea Chung: Between Too Late and Too Early

Creative direction and graphic design of the exhibition catalogue for Andrea Chung’s survey at MOCA Nomi

While there is no substitute for looking at art in person, an exhibition catalogue designer must at least try to bring something of that experience to readers. So, when invited to design the catalogue for Between Too Late & Too Early – visual artist Andrea Chung’s midcareer survey at MOCA North Miami – I set out to meet that challenge. Through her work, Andrea examines the legacies of slavery and colonialism in the Caribbean via labour-intensive explorations and reworking of archival material. In spite of these difficult themes, it’s incredibly beautiful work, and I wanted the design of her book to reflect that beauty. 

Materiality in Andrea’s work is important, so scale and edges were celebrated, while essay background colours are tints representing her cyanotypes, floral adornments, and work with sugar. The book’s title typeface, Roslindale, has its roots in the 1890s (I selected it as a nod to Andrea’s reworking of archival images), while the cover cutout treatment references her collages.

I would eventually learn that Andrea’s stated desire to work with a Caribbean designer led to my being asked on board; the significance of this insistence isn’t lost on me.

SUMMARY | Role: Creative Direction and Graphic Design
Publisher: Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami
Artist: Andrea Chung
Editor/Curator: Adeze Wilford
Texts: Adeze Wilford, Eddie Chambers, Aruna D’Souza, Chana Budgazad Sheldon
Managing editor and production: Todd Bradway
Copy Editor: Flatpage
Printed and bound by GHP, West Haven, CT
Typefaces: Roslindale and Aeonik, with special thanks to Roslindale typeface designer, DJR, for updating my very early version to the full family
Book photos: Michele Jorsling