Week 11 Artist's Books

Still having a read over the second reading. I find myself not having enough time to even look at the study questions at the moment which is just appalling. I will definitely have to get into it when I get back to Wagga Wagga that’s for sure. For the time being I am content with reading what I have got. I think that I am taking up more knowledge by sitting down and reading through everything first before I look at the questions. Most would say it’s just procrastination but I just don’t agree at all!!
I have had a further look at some artist’s books that other classmates have posted up on the forum. I would have to say that my favorite is Georgia Russell because of her whacky stuff. I think her Lolita (2009) is my favorite out of her work. You can see an image of the work below.
I also had a look at some of Vladimir Kush’s work. I particular loved the book below. Utterly amazing what some people will do!!!

Week 10 Distractions

During this week I was unable to get much done at all due to rushing around like crazy after my family issues. Newcastle has been good but it has been a major distraction from my work. I had a skim over the study guide questions this week and I had a look at some different artists’ books. Also I defined what an artists’ book is. My definition was as follows:

The Artists’ Book is a book, whether digital or traditional that is a representation of an artistic view point through the use of imagery and/or text. It is a visual interpretation by an artist of what a book is actually supposed to be.

I also had a read over the two reading for this week. I found Drucker’s “The Century of Artists’ Books” to be quite riveting. I was immediately caught up in the reading from the first paragraph.

“It’s easy enough to state that an artist’s book is a book created as an original work of art, rather than a reproduction of pre-existing work. And also, that it is a book which integrates the formal means of its realization and production with its thematic or aesthetic issues. However this definition raises more questions than it answers.”

Drucker also addresses the idea of what a book actually is in this reading. I would like to quote it, because it reminds me of the first class that we had when we discussed “What is a book?” The subjects that were addressed by Drucker are very similar to the ones that we all brought up in class.

“Is a book restricted to codex form? Does it include scrolls? Tablets? Deck of cards? A block of wood with one end painted with a title, like a conventional spine? A walk-in space of oversized panels hinged together? A metaphysical concept, disembodied, but invoked in performance or ritual?”

I think that the Artist’s Book is more of a challenge to what a book actually is. It is the job of the artist, not only to just create a pretty picture, but to also challenge current ethical views, and also to challenge the traditional. So, yes an artist’s book represents the views and imagery that the Artist was trying to convey, but it is also a challenge on the very meaning of what a book actually is. I like this idea. I believe than anything traditional can be challenged. There is always something, not necessarily better, but different.