Art lovers and bibliophiles will be excited by the scores of stunning artists’ books soon to go on exhibition at Manly Art Gallery & Museum (19 Feb – 28 March 2021).

Over 50 artists’ books from around the world, all finalists in the 2021 Library Artists’ Book Awards, are featured in the unique exhibition.

Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said artists books are a growing art form, drawing in creative people from many different practices, such as visual artists and photographers as well as writers.

“It crosses the boundaries between the art and literary worlds and the concept can be a bit difficult to understand, so it is well worth coming along to the exhibition to check out these fantastic works of art.

 “Artists' books are works of art, usually published in small editions though sometimes produced as one-of-a-kind objects referred to as ‘uniques’.”

They are made in a wide range of forms, including scrolls, fold-outs, concertinas or loose items contained in a box, as well as bound printed sheets of all kinds.

In this year’s exhibition, artist Theo Strasser’s work The Survivors’ Suite was made in his home during Covid 19 isolation.  There are seven books in the box set, each standing in for a day of the week.  The work was created from materials collected over years and repurposed to create new imagery linked to the current times. 

Another example is artist Ilona Simon from Hungary, whose work Koyaanisqatsi was inspired by Godfrey Reggio’s film Koyaanisqatsi (1982).  In Hopi Indian language, the title means life out of balance.  The idea was taken further by using the ornament of Indian headdresses, the bird’s feather and includes 40 drawings of different bird feathers.

Since its launch in 2011, the Library Artists' Book Award has attracted entries from around the world, confirming its status as a globally recognised event.

This year, Ross Heathcote, Curator of Manly Art Gallery & Museum and eminent Sydney based artist Anthea Boesenberg, the judges of the 2021 awards, curated the exhibition and acquired the books which will form part of the Northern Beaches Library Service’s permanent collection.

Every two years since 2011, the Northern Beaches Library Service has held an Artists’ Book Award attracting entries from around the world.

The award program allows the Northern Beaches Library Service to continue developing its extensive artists' book collection and contribute to the development and awareness of artists' book as an art form.

Each book acquired will be available for viewing in the Library and in digital form on the Library website online catalogue.

For more information, please go to Council’s website

Media Enquiries: media@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au 8495 6943