Narratives
"In artists’ books, narrative negotiates between the finite real estate of the page and the vast territory of imagination making use of all and every possible tool of verbal and visual invention" (Johanna Drucker, 1999).
The sequential nature of the book is the perfect way to express a narrative. While traditional books such as novels use it subconsciously, artists use it in a much more deliberate way. Artists’ books usually have fewer pages than a regular published book and each page turn is a carefully planned part of the experience of the book.
Artists make use of the sequence of the book to tell stories in ways that may not be expected. The story may not start at the beginning of the book or continue in one direction. You may go forwards and backwards through the book or the direction may be left up to the reader. Narratives can be expressed by text alone, by images alone, or by a combination of both.
The use of page shape and materials can also emphasize the message.
Lyn Ashby (b. 1953)
Sisyphus goes home
Adelaide: ThisTooPress, 2006
Edition: 50 copies
Australian Library of Art
State Library of Queensland
ALAAB ASH
Lyn Ashby (b. 1953)
Sisyphus goes home
Adelaide: ThisTooPress, 2006
Edition: 50 copies
Australian Library of Art
State Library of Queensland
ALAAB ASH
Pierre Cavalan (b. 1954)
(Untitled)
Glebe, NSW: P. Cavalan, 1998
Edition: Unique
Australian Library of Art
State Library of Queensland
ALAAB CAV
Margaret Kaufman
Claire Van Vliet (b. 1933)
Aunt Sallie's lament
San Francisco, California: Chronicle Books, 1993
Edition: 23,000 copies
Australian Library of Art
State Library of Queensland
ALAAB KAU
Gaye Paterson (b. 1949)
These are my friends
Canberra: Canberra School of Art, Edition and Artist Book Studio, 1997
Edition: 10 copies
Australian Library of Art
State Library of Queensland
ALAAB PAT
Last updated: 29th November 2011
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