Some brief background
Artists'
books are art
works realized
in the form of a book. They are often published in small editions,
though
sometimes they are produced as one-of-a-kind objects referred to as one off art objects.
Artists'
books have employed a wide range of forms, including scrolls,
fold-outs, concertinas or
loose items contained in a box as well as bound printed sheet. Artists have
been active in printing and book production for centuries, but the artist's
book is primarily a late 20th century form.
"Artists'
books are books or book-like objects over the final appearance of which an
artist has had a high degree of control; where the book is intended as a work
of art in itself." Stephen Bury from Wikipedia
The
book as a form has often been used to circulate a work, outside of the gallery
space, that one has a physical and personal relationship to (one holds a book
in one’s hand or pocket). This has been
done to subvert oppressive political power, and disseminate radical ideas
Ed Rushca
Adrian Piper
Derek Sullivan
Art Metropole: Artist books,multiples, video, audio, Toronto
Printed Matter, New York, an excellent place for historic and contemporary artist books
a blog about artist books and multiples
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