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Innovation

Books are valued, not only for their content, but as objects of beauty and fine craft.

Artists and books been closely associated since the earliest days of book production. Artists have determined the look and the shape of books, from papermaking and illustration to design and binding.

Many cultures have developed rich and varied traditions in the craftsmanship of books. Japan, in particular, is renowned for the high level of all aspects of its book production.

In the West, the Industrial Revolution brought about the mass production of books and a subsequent decline in their aesthetic quality. In response, artists such as William Morris revived the fine crafts of bookmaking, creating the foundations for the private press movement.

Artists today continue to question the nature of books by working with them as objects. By changing their form, they challenge our pre-conceived notions of what a book is, how it is used and what it should look like.

At a time when digital forms of information dissemination are presenting potential alternatives, the book's future is ensured by its nature as an ever-changing object to be admired, read, desired and owned.