Due to the restrictions of covid I cannot access the artist book collection, but I wanted to find out more about it and organised to speak with Doreen who has specialist knowledge about the artist books. This meeting was extremely beneficial to me in exploring my ideas as well as expanding my knowledge and gaining insight into collection, as well as specific artist book artifacts.
We discussed book structures, the importance of the content and structure and how these work in unison I am quite interested in how the structure can inform the reader or create a journey that is personal and unique through the tactile form on a book and binding. I am interested in exploring a range of structures, but the one I am drawn to for this project is the concertina book, as this can be stretched out, double sided, sculptural, linear, you can also add additional pages that can be tipped in.
The qualities of a book structure allow it to be tactile, personal experience (immersive), allow for reader engagement through imagery, visual, interactive,fluid, allow for sensual interaction of sigh, smell, hearing and touch, the feel and type of paper.
Doreen was explaining the origin of the artist book, they came around during the 1900 when the artist book movement pushed to make art more accessible and this saw a rise in artwork being published and bound into book as a way of the artist becoming known. these were made by the artist and where usually part of a limited series or a collection but they can also be one off and unique works. These can also be published as part of an artist exhibition to explore the concept of work or can be a sculptural form in their own right.
Lara Hoad Artist Designer: Maker 