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Covered
Beauty and Art in Contemporary Bookbinding
30 April - 9 May 2009
From a concertina book in the shape of a snake to a book that
resembles a jewelry box embellished with silver and moonstones,
Covered shows the range of techniques, styles and materials in
contemporary bookbinding. With over seventy works by fifty
binders, the exhibition showcases the very best work from
bookbinders across the UK. The work in the exhibition has been
selected by Designer Bookbinders, a society devoted to the
design and craft of hand bookbinding and includes the work of
both established and emerging binders.
A craft that dates back thousands of years, bookbinders create beautiful,
one-off bindings that respond directly to the text, illustration, print and
paper of a book. Bookbinders work in harmony with the text, creating a
book structure that both complements and extends the meaning, or feel
of a book. Each binder will have his or her own style and each text will
evoke different responses, from detailed painted images to abstract forms
and patterns.
One book is bound in Japanese silk thread and goatskin while another uses
suede, fine embroidery and beading. The range of styles is as diverse as the
individuals who create them. Often working with small Private Presses, the
binder can respond not only to the ideas within the text, but also to the quality of the
paper, the printing and illustrations. Materials and techniques range from traditional
leathers and vellums with gold tooling and inlays, to more contemporary work using
metal, plastics and wood and also exploiting new printing and colouring techniques.
Prices range from £50 for a simple embossed leather notebook to £4000 for a finely
bound Private Press book. Commissioning a binder to work on a particular text is
also increasingly popular. Commissions can come from many sources - individuals
wanting a bespoke binding of a particular text for a special gift; or public institutions,
libraries and museums building up their own contemporary collections. Every year
Designer Bookbinders are commissioned by Man Booker to produce bindings for the
short-listed books on the Booker prize, exhibited at the Victoria & Albert Museum. In
addition this year an exhibition highlighting the best of international bookbinding
will be held at the Bodleian Library from 12 June to 1 August 2009.
Advice about commissioning and conservation is available from
Designer Bookbinders www.designerbookbinders.org.uk
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