The Book in Context
BA Book Arts and Design are staging their interim show in the Well Gallery right now. The Book in Context is an exploration of what it is that constitutes ‘bookness’ these days, in our ever-shifting culture. This cohort will be the first to graduate from the newly redeveloped programme (formerly Book Arts and Crafts) and through working with everything from film to tightly honed graphics, are clearly keen to dust off the cobwebs and quash any anachronistic resonances the name might still carry.
The work on display incorporates fine art and design and through both research and practice, students are challenged to think about narrative, sequencing and the form of the book – however surprising that ends up being. “I think the wonderful idea of the book is that it’s fluid,” points out course leader and artist Daphne Plessner “Historically we have a long tradition of the book: from clay tablets through to e-books and that is what we’re encouraging students to explore and investigate. It’s not as if we understand the book as just a codex – it isn’t. I think it’s just not an accurate way of understanding things and I don’t think it equips people for the reality of what goes on in independent publishing.”
Independent publishing is something the course is geared towards, encouraging students to be proactive and flexible whilst flagging up wider contemporary issues at the same time. Daphne explains: “What’s exciting about this course is that we capture the idea of independent publishing and that means students are invited to author projects. People are realising that this idea of authoring is moving into the digital space and I think that’s very exciting for us because it opens up possibilities. Increasingly we’re building networks with writers and artists who are interested in communicating and packaging their ideas either online or in the printed form. I think the book as a printed artefact has a place still – a special place – but the book as an online digital publishing medium will continue.”
Students are encouraged to think about the way information is consumed and how reading patterns are evolving the world over. One student who combines these ideas with a razor-sharp graphic style is Anna Howard. “She’s trying to flip the whole function of the book around in terms of content. She’s very interested in the spoken word – her father is illiterate – and was interested in the shift from the graphic to the oral. It’s all phonetically written and designed to be orally read.”
Over all, Daphne concedes “I think it’s a lovely and interesting show because it shows such a variety of personalities involved and they’ve all been given encouragement to develop that.” The work is varied and visually interesting; the premise more relevant than ever. It will be wonderful to see how it develops over the next months in time for the Summer Shows but in the meantime, have a look for yourself before it ends next Tuesday. See our News and Events page for more details.
Tags: ba book arts
[...] film poster exhibition at the Kemistry Gallery (‘Design is thought made visual!’), the ‘Book in Context’, the Book Arts & Design 3rd years show at LCC that made me very proud to be in my course and [...]