For many years it has been well known that more people are aware of an artist through (1) the printed media or (2) conversation than by direct confrontation with the work itself…

When art concerns itself with things not germane to physical presence, its intrinsic (communicative) value is not altered by its presentation in printed media. The use of catalogues and books to communicate (and disseminate) art is the most neutral means to present the new art.

The catalogue can now act as primary information for the exhibition, as opposed to secondary information about art in magazines, catalogues, etc., and in some cases the "exhibition" can be the "catalogue."

—Seth Siegelaub (1970)