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A Division of UnderConsideration

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Don’t you just love a small book? The kind that fits in your pocket, even if you never actually put in in your pocket? For me, these books fall into two categories: the fun and quirky, or the dark and mysterious. This project falls in the latter category.

Prue Gibson’s writing is like a 19th century essay. It is an opinion piece and comment on death and contemporary art. With funding from Australia Council to produce the book, Prue came to Boccalatte wanting to produce something small and unique—we felt that it had to be precious and small like a prayer book or a missal. The ribbon, the emboss and the black edges completed the picture.

This unusual art book is a philosophical enquiry into the use of deathly imagery in contemporary art. It explores art, literature, film and history to investigate why fear of death is an intrinsic part of life. It is after all, our deepest fear and behind everything we do. Death drives us in life.

The book was to be a sacred book. A prayer book. Something that would feel good in the hand.

The lovely irony is that we wanted to make an object that in itself is threatened with extinction in the 21st century. The book. Technology is making the book in fear of it’s own life. But we believe and have said this many times before, the more we immerse in technology, the more we crave the experiential, the sensual, the tactile. While technology is fine, the pleasure of holding at a book or looking at a work of art will not go away. We crave the personal, sensual and private spaces and that is what makes us human.

Bring back the sensual. Engage people. Create desire for people to touch. So that when we receive something like a book — we need to seduce and surprise. Giving us a chance to stop and pause … to experience and perceive.

Even small books can come with big production issues, and a lot was learned while attempting something new.

Trying to make end papers by oil marbling in the studio is hard and messy. Almost impossible. Well was impossible. Give yourself time and do research. Looking back, I think our failed marbling attempt was because we used oil based paint mixed with turpentine. In hindsight, we should of just used proper marbling ink!

Finally, check pages when you are working with sections with plates. It can affect the whole job if you get the sections wrong. Always ask for an imposition from the printer.

Tandemodus Holiday Card

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Production Method

Design

Boccalatte: Suzanne Boccalatte

Printing

Spitting Image