October Book Bag: Taryn Simon’s Guggenheim Catalogue and Hans Arp’s Paper Works

Taryn Simon’s exhibition at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is the first photography-based monographic show to be presented in the museum’s renowned rotunda. The exhibition, open until March 14, 2027, follows the life of an unnamed federal agent through 42 individual works. Simon’s practice closely integrates bookmaking: texts written on the gallery walls become stories in the catalogue, and the artworks themselves are transformed into photographs within the publication.

A new book on Hans Arp, recognized as a pioneer of the Dada movement, focuses on his works on paper and paper collages. Arp is known for his playful biomorphic sculptural forms, and this publication provides a comprehensive look at his paper-based creations, highlighting their role as both a medium for play and a means of inventing new artistic worlds.

Among other October releases is "Birth of a Collection," published in Arabic, English, and French. Forty-two curators, historians, and scholars contributed to this volume, which highlights objects such as the Monumental Lion, an important Islamic work from around 1100–1200.

The month’s publications also address contemporary art events, including Khaled Sabsabi’s presentation at the 2026 Venice Biennale. An essay by Islamic art historian Claire Dillon examines Sabsabi’s two installations for the Biennale, exploring their connections to Islamic artistic traditions and Sufi philosophy.

Together, these publications offer readers and researchers new perspectives on the evolution of artistic practices and cultural narratives, enriching the ongoing discourse in art history and contemporary art.