On Wednesday, May 7, the monograph ‘Henk Cornelissen – Gestructureerd Toeval’ (Structured Coincidence) was presented in a packed auditorium at Chassé Theater in Breda.
A fascinating program reflected on Henk’s career and explained the initiative of Ton Homburg, René Pijnenburg and Pieter Vlamings: to archive and open up the oeuvre of Henk Cornelissen. The thoughts behind the monograph, the culmination of the 7-year project, were also shared. The program concluded with the interview ‘What I do is myself‘ that Oscar Kocken made with Henk. From the hands of Mayor Paul Depla, Henk and his wife Machteld received the first copy of the extensive and impressive monograph.
The presentation was a collaboration of Whynot Cooperation and Graphic Matters. An installation on Henk Cornelissen’s work and his monograph will be on display at the Chassé Theater until June 12.
About the book
After a brilliant international design career, graphic designer Henk Cornelissen closed his studio at the end of 1987. A Turning Point as it will turn out. He was then only 46 years old. From that moment on, in addition to teaching at St. Joost Academy, Henk devoted himself with iron discipline to creating work for which no client but himself set the framework. Always on the same paper size of 50×65 cm, he henceforth creates graphic structures according to rules and agreements he has predetermined. In doing so, he always challenges the TOEVAL (Coincidence) so that something unexpected happens in the structure. In more than thirty-five years, more than 750 works are created, uncompromisingly and meticulously executed in analog. Even if it sometimes takes 11 years and 9 days to complete a work.
Neither the public nor the museum world know the work. Henk hardly ever goes public with it. This oeuvre book showcases Henk Cornelissen’s work in detail. Authors are invited to react to it from their own background. How does a mathematician look at it, a philosopher, a cultural critic, a curator, a designer, a former student, a photographer? In conclusion, Henk and interviewer Oscar Kocken search for the source and the WHY of his drive and perseverance, of his fascination with numbers and probabilities, of his intimate connection with TOEVAL.
The book can be ordered directly through the websites henkcornelissen.nl or lecturis.nl
Concept and editing: Ton Homburg, René Pijnenburg, Pieter Vlamings (Whynot Cooperation)
Design: Ton Homburg OPERA concept & design
Publisher: Lecturis
Photography: Frans Strous and Dutch Design Daily
