National Art Library display explores unconventional artists' books

The Victoria and Albert Museum's National Art Library in London has opened 'Expanding the book', a two-case display of artists' books from 1985 to 2023. Curated by a library staff member, the selection includes works made from feathers, silk, polymer clay, and glass mirror boards. Featured pieces include Claire Van Vliet's 'Lady Freedom Among Us' (1994) with a poem by Rita Dove, a sculptural book referencing the Capitol dome; 'SMILE: transparent' (1985) by Michael Tolson (alias tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE), a Neoist 'film magazine' stored in a plastic bottle; Sophie Loss's 'He trots the air' (2023), a concertina book inspired by a legless ancient Greek horse statue at the British Museum; and Tim Hopkins's 'The Book of Disquiet' (2017), a letterpress-printed reimagining of Fernando Pessoa's work on over 60 found objects. Other works include Geneviève Seillé's 'Livre de référence' (1991), Victoria Browne's 'Dark matter' (2008), Masao Yamamoto's '中空 Nakazora' (2001), John Christie and Ron King's 'The mirror book/book' (1985), Larry Beck Thomas's 'Pocket book' (1990–1992), Jeroen van Westen's 'Op de lucht' (1990), and Kathleen Amt's 'The mermaid' (1989). The display is viewable outside the library entrance regardless of opening hours.