Bin Koh,

TOME, 2023,

Ongoing Platform

Introducing TOME, a platform in which marginality is expression, questioned, argued, stressed over and exhibited. During my seven years living in the Netherlands, I’ve been peeking into large curtain-less windows in the Dutch urban landscape; seeing into upper-middle class living rooms in which everything is on display for passersby to see. Coming from both the practical reasoning of a large window without curtains providing ample sunlight, combined with the Calvinistic value of having ‘nothing to hide’—of full transparency—these windows often display big bulky coffee table books which show off the tenant’s taste and decorating their living room. The coffee-table book is an interesting object. It is seen as a signifier of good taste and culture for many, however for me it can also be understood as ostentation; a display of Western voyeurism and the commodification of Otherness.

Following this, I propose to initiate the platform TOME, in which we will work towards constructing coffee-table book-like objects from and for those who don’t come from and/or align themselves with such values. TOME will invite artists, designers, writers, researchers, organizers and whoever feels the need to speak about their own marginality and Otherness. In the future, finished works will be shown through different on and offline channels.