Unidentified Paper Object 2: I Wish I Was There

A fragile and powerful object, UPO 2 offers a singular reading experience, defined by serendipity and stark juxtaposition. Each copy is unique: approximately thirty photographs by Xenia Naselou (b. 1989) are randomly inserted over double-page spreads, where a dark, inky river flows—a graphic form designed by Rejane Dal Bello. Printed on delicate, bible-like paper, the design is both magnetic and uncompromising, with sparse, fragmented texts in the margins that invite careful attention. Naselou’s photographs, born from her intimate observations of people and places, resonate deeply against the somber river, amplifying themes of displacement and human fragility. As publisher Elodie Boyer notes, "instead of creating a graphic design to be an accompaniment to an artistic project, we set off on a search for photographs which would complement the magnetic and unwedded design of Rejane Dal Bello... Xenia was getting ready to go to the Greek island of Lesbos, to photograph refugees. We helped her modestly and together we created this UPO, a conjoining of serendipities." The work within invites reader to touch the traces of human misery and handle them with care. Winner of European Design Award, Gold (Oslo, 2018). Gold. Designed by Rejane Dal Bello Published by Éditions Non Standard, 2017 Bilingual, in French and English Softcover, 180 pages + 32 loose photographs in 3 formats, ISBN: 979-1-09-693901-5