Antoni Tapies/Hilla & Bernd Becher (Ninety)

Published in 1990 as the inaugural issue of the art journal Ninety, this volume serves as a significant intersection of European avant-garde traditions. The journal was conceived to provide a platform for rigorous dialogue regarding contemporary artistic practice, pairing established figures with emerging conceptual movements. By juxtaposing the tactile, gestural abstraction of Antoni Tàpies with the rigid, systematic typology of Bernd and Hilla Becher, the publication highlights the decade's fascination with the tension between organic materiality and clinical documentation.

The editorial vision behind Ninety aimed to strip away the artifice of traditional criticism, favoring a clean, minimalist aesthetic that allowed the works to speak through juxtaposition. The design choices were intentional, utilizing expansive negative space and archival-quality paper to reflect the institutional and historical weight of the featured artists. Upon release, the volume was noted for its uncompromising intellectual focus, establishing a template for high-end art periodicals that prioritized curatorial depth over commercial accessibility.