Over the course of a year, Mermelstein mined his personal archives. He searched for lost materials and unearthed old, unpublished photographs to visually represent this butterfly-like behaviour. He found small, quiet, previously overlooked moments in images which could collectively accumulate meaning. He gathered images of flowers photographed on the hoof, pages from old journals, ancient snapshots of family, iPhone photos of thoughts, memories and passing ideas—all rough, spontaneous and preserved without editing. The creation of the book became a playful collaboration, constructing a metaphorical shoebox of re-found discoveries to form Mermelstein’s first introspective body of work, a portal to his inner-life.
Mermelstein’s photographs are known for being fast, funny and sharp—a reputation built from nearly 50 years of photographing on the street. He notices things that most people overlook and captures these fleeting moments. The works in the book are sequenced and paired with no discernible hierarchy nor narrative to echo Mermelstein’s sharp humour with both similarities and juxtapositions of colour, form and composition.
Specifications: Void ・ 2025 ・ Screenprinted Hardcover ・ 16,8 x 23 cm. / 224 pages ・ English ・ 978-618-5479-44-2
