October Book Bag: Taryn Simon’s Guggenheim Catalogue and Hans Arp’s Paper Works

Taryn Simon’s exhibition at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is the first photography-based monographic display to be presented in the museum’s renowned rotunda. The show, open until March 14, 2027, traces the life of an unnamed federal agent through 42 individual works. This narrative approach is central to the exhibition’s concept, as each work contributes to the unfolding story.

A Guggenheim spokesperson notes that bookmaking is integral to Simon’s practice. The texts she writes on the gallery walls become the stories in the accompanying book, and the individual artworks are transformed into photographs within the publication. This process reflects Simon’s method of translating installation elements into book form.

A new publication also focuses on Hans Arp, who is credited as a pioneer of the Dada movement and is known for his playful biomorphic sculptural forms. The book examines Arp’s works on paper and his paper collages, offering a comprehensive view of their role in his multifaceted artistic output.

The publication on Arp highlights how his works on paper served as a vehicle for play and as a means of inventing new worlds. This perspective provides readers with an understanding of the importance of paper in Arp’s creative process and the diversity of his artistic explorations.

Together, these publications shed light on the practices of two artists—Simon’s integration of text and image, and Arp’s inventive use of paper—offering readers a deeper appreciation of their contributions to contemporary and historical art.