The 5th International Artist's-Book Triennial, Vilnius;
here in a presentation at the Leipzig Book Fair 2009, with it's
curator: Kestutis Vasiliunas
The 5th International Artist's-Book Triennial, Vilnius;
here in a presentation at the Leipzig Book Fair 2009, with it's
curator:
Kestutis Vasiliunas
5th International Artist?s Book Triennial Vilnius 2009
From: Kestutis Vasiliunas:
2009 March 12 -15, Leipzig Book Fair, Germany;
2009 April - May , Gallery "Arka" Vilnius, Lithuania;
2009 September - December, Art Centre Silkeborg Bad, Silkeborg,
Denmark;
2010 Early spring, Gallery Hübner Bokform, Halmstad, Sweden;
2010 May, Seoul International Book Arts Fair, Seoul, Korea;
2010 Summer, Venice, Italy.
330 artists from 56 different countries sent their books for the 5th International Artist?s Book Triennial Vilnius 2009. The jury selected only 131 artists for the exhibition. It is sad and disappointing that so many artists were not included into the exhibition. But by organising this jubilee triennial, my purpose pursued was to make it simply the best. Not the best of just "my" triennials but, modestly speaking, at least to ensure that it is the top artistic level in Europe. I would like to thank all the authors who created and sent their books.
The theme of the 5th International Artist?s Book Triennial is Text. If compared with the themes of previous triennials, this theme is as if a step backwards, something more traditional. Probably. But if so, then first of all, that small step is a step towards oneself, towards one?s culture, towards one?s country, its uniqueness, language and writing. It is turning back towards each other, an attempt to establish a contact with the other human being, irrespective of the country he or she lives in, language he or she speaks, religion he or she believes in. Letters, dairies or poetry expressed in words, images, from the heart. They are the words (In the beginning was the Word, Jn 1. 1) that acquired "body? from paper, metal, wood or any other material. They are the words that turned into an avalanche of typographic text, calligraphic letters or entirely vanished from the book pages with only punctuation marks, imprints on the paper leaf left.
The 5th Triennial displays the most interesting artist?s books from all over the world. It is the most wonderful experience to see culture, traditions of different countries, art schools reflected in the artist's books created by the artists. Paper typographic books and books printed by the use of classic graphic techniques ? wood engraving, silk-screen printing or lithography; books printed by mixed techniques by combining possibilities of digital printing with drawing, collage and object; concept and ?handmade? embroidered books; books ? objects, le parello and Flux books. The key role here is played by the idea which materialises in multidimensional forms, and it is absolutely unimportant what means of expression were used in the book. Thus, whether they are "bibliophilic" books or experimental or books ? objects ? all of them by supplementing each other and contrasting with each other help to reveal miraculous and mysterious world of the artist's book.
This exhibition is an invitation for dialogue. An invitation to share your ?text" with the others, an invitation to read the other author?s words carefully, and to feel his or her soul trembling, heart beating. Thus, please accept this invitation.
Like always we have made the special conceptual catalogue full in colour. The catalogue has modern design, printed on good paper, whose sheets were ripped apart and binded by hand. The catalogue has 500 edition, all catalogues are numbered. The catalogue is available at 25 euro per copy on request.
Kestutis Vasiliunas
curator
KESTUTIS VASILIUNAS IN NEDERLAND
Kestutis Vasiliunas
Filaretu 9-5
LT 01207 Vilnius
LITHUANIA
+370-5-2154796
+370-656-05379
www.arts.lt
vasiliunask@bokartas.lt
Deze Lithause kunstenaar en tentoonstellingscurator werkte een periode in Atelier It Plein 19 en had als zoveel andere bezoekende kunstenaars een aansluitende tentoonstelling in het Fries Grafisch Museum. Zijn werk kent geen grenzen, zoals ook zijn reislust geen grenzen kent.
Alle aspecten van de grafiek, van geheel vlakke afdrukken en bladen in zijn kunstenaarsboeken tot de meest ruimtelijke en letterlijk beweeglijke performences, zijn door hem met succes doorvorst. Zijn werk komt voort uit een zeer sterke klassieke traditie en is daarna vrijgekomen in de verbeelding van Europa in de huidige tijd.
In Joure konden we zijn reisschetsen uit Italie laten zien.
