IT STARTS AS A BOOK

 

14/05/2026 >17/05/2026

launch:
Thu 14/05 > 12-9pm
open: 
Fri 15/05 > Sun 17/05 > 12-6pm

Artist talks:
Thu-Fri-Sat from 3-4pm

​

Jo Frenken is a visual artist, graphic designer,
teacher, and founder of the Printing & Publishing Lab at the Jan van Eyck Academie. He taught there for decades, developing a sustained interest in books. His practice is fundamentally conceptual, with a particular focus on scientific methods and near-duplicates.
For Antwerp Art Weekend, Jo Frenken will present a
selection of books from his archive — including books he has made himself, produced for other artists, and those that have informed his practice. Alongside the exhibition, he will give three artist talks presenting a broader overview of his work.

As every year during Antwerp Art Weekend, FMTY Space collaborates with Carl Haase of Zero Desk. This year, FMTY Space focuses on the theme “Collecting and Archiving.” We continue exploring this theme during AAW, but from a different angle. We reflect on the individual collection as a
constructed narrative. In the case of Jo Frenken,

his curated selection of books tells the story of his professional journey as both a teacher and an artist.