The pod-like exterior of the Commercial Travellers' Association (CTA), in Sydney's Martin Place, is unusual and striking, but within its circular interior, artist Thomas Demand (opens in new tab) has created the poetry of the everyday; haikus of glanced objects, dreamlike scenes and liminal locations. 'The Dailies', as the photographic installation is called, recalling the daily rushes of a feature film, takes over a whole floor of the building. Accompanying the exhibition (presented by Kaldor Public Art Projects (opens in new tab)) is a limited-edition catalogue, which Demand produced in collaboration with London-based publishers Mack Books (opens in new tab).
Mimicking the shape of the CTA building, the substantial 32-page volume can be displayed in a circular fashion, thanks to its leporello binding. Its concertina pages, a nod to the fluted pillars which make up the base of the building, come together to form a 16-pointed star. Encased with a magnetised closing system in faux leather, 'The Dailies' was designed by Naomi Mizusaki of Supermarket (opens in new tab), who has worked with Demand on a number of books - such as his most recent publication, La Carte d'apres Nature (opens in new tab).
The photographs that make up The Dailies are of cardboard and paper sculptures. Some
of them - like the coffee cup caught in a chain link fence or the twist of paper trapped in a grating - speak of transient urban scenes. Other constructions (of windows, doors or changing rooms) are places of passage, not residence; as is the location of the exhibition, a members' club for travelling salesmen.
In the CTA building, each of the photographs are framed on the wall of a different room, radiating from a circular corridor. Demand has made subtle adjustments to the contents and fittings so they complement his beautifully melancholic images of life's lost details. The installation is a collaboration with the writer Louis Begley (opens in new tab), author of About Schmidt, who has penned a short story about a commercial traveller's dream-state visit to the CTA. Fragments of the story, Gregor in Sydney, are printed in each room and on the pages of the book. A unique scent has also been created by Miuccia Prada (opens in new tab).
Bound in faux leather, with a magnetised closing system, 'The Dailies' was designed by Naomi Mizusaki of Supermarket, who has worked with Demand on a number of his books
The substantial 32-page volume has been leporello-bound, allowing it to be displayed in a circular fashion...
... mimicking the shape of the CTA building. Its concertina pages, a nod to the fluted pillars which make up the base of the building, come together to form a 16-pointed star
A spread from 'The Dailies'; pictured here is 'Daily #12' by Thomas Demand
'Daily #10' by Thomas Demand
In each room of the exhibition in the CTA building there is a framed photograph of one of Demand's cardboard and paper sculptures. Some of the photographs speak of transient urban scenes, while other constructions are places of passage, not residence
'Daily #9' by Thomas Demand
To print the actual photographs, Demand tracked down a couple living on an island near Seattle who are among the last few practitioners of the slow, labour-intensive, dye-transfer printing method
'Daily #18' by Thomas Demand, 2012
'The Dailies' features a collaboration with the writer Louis Begley, author of About Schmidt, who has penned a short story about a commercial traveller's dream-state visit to the CTA. Fragments of the story, Gregor in Sydney, are also printed in each room in the exhibition
'Dailies #8' by Thomas Demand, 2009
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