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Art between covers. A new blog for artists' books

Artists' books are primarily works of art. The Bayerische Staatsbibliothek holds one of the most important collections of international artists' books and, with the foundation of a common blog, creates an international communication tool for collecting institutions, researchers, students and private collectors.

Blog "Kunst zwischen Deckeln" | © BSB/ Lilian Landes

Blog "Kunst zwischen Deckeln" | © BSB/ Lilian Landes

Blog "Kunst zwischen Deckeln", logo | © BSB/ Lilian Landes

To the blog:
https://bookarts.hypotheses.org/

Artists' books are vagabonds. While they are at home in museums and in libraries, they still cross borders everywhere. From concept books, which are outwardly inconspicuous and frequently very inexpensive, to unique, hand-crafted minimal editions enriched with original works: Almost always, it struggles with itself, thus questioning the medium of the book – and has done so for decades, for books as works of art were already created very consciously by the famous names of artistic avant-gardes.

Today, the world of artists' books is global, colourful and very active. With the newly founded blog, the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek wants to create a tool for networking and exchange: Shed a light on acquisitions made by collecting institutions, such as libraries and museums, look at fantastic finds, publishers off the beaten track, presses and projects, let researchers and artists express their views, in a nutshell: document the vivaciousness of the scene.

The foundation of the blog coincides in time with an event well-known in the field: On 10 and 11 May 2019, the Super BOOKS, a special fair for artists' books, takes place in the Haus der Kunst. At the invitation of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Marshall Weber, head of the New York artists' association Booklyn, will present current artists' books from the USA in a dance performance (Friday, 19:00, admission free).

Super BOOKS
New York artists' association Booklyn

Artists' books are art that can be touched: The Libri selecti of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek can be searched in targeted manner and can be ordered for browsing in the Reading Room for Manuscripts and Rare Books.

About the collection of artists' books of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek:
Flyer on the blog "Kunst zwischen Deckeln"  (PDF 105 KB)
BSB website "Artists’ books"

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