Robert Kuśmirowski's 'Perso[a]nomalia' Catalog as Artist's Book at MAMbo

Robert Kuśmirowski's exhibition 'Perso[a]nomalia' at MAMbo in Bologna (June 21, 2024 – January 6, 2025) is accompanied by a catalog published by Danilo Montanari Editore that functions as an artist's book rather than a traditional anthology. The volume opens with a short text recounting the project's genesis from curators' meetings in Warsaw, then dispenses with theoretical essays, presenting each work with a brief caption and artist quote alongside images and installation views. Key works include 'Cosmorama' (2010), a peepshow device reflecting on lost craftsmanship, and 'The Piano' (2024), a deteriorated instrument saved from indifference, with music composed for the exhibition. The bulk of the catalog is devoted to 'Portier', a large archival cabinet in the Ciminiere hall containing memory-laden objects, where Kuśmirowski acts as custodian. The book's materials—hemp, green leather, and paper—echo the exhibition's tactile and visual continuity, extending the aesthetic experience beyond the museum. This approach mirrors Kuśmirowski's 2022 catalog for 'DUSTribute' at Kunstraum Dornbirn, which similarly reflected the exhibition's atmosphere. The catalog is not merely documentary but an autonomous object that prolongs the reflection initiated by the show.