Manchester Artist Book Fair

6^th November 2010
Holden Gallery

I was fortunate enough to work at the fifth Manchester artist book fair and found the experience really inspiring. Speaking to many of the artists, some of which had just graduated from the Design and Direction course, gave me an insight into possibilities post graduation.

I loved a collection of books by Alix Swan. Her books are based on traditional children’s fairytales. She combines old and new ephemera, drawings, collage, photography and bookbinding together with familiar quotations from the stories. I particularly liked the long thin format of the book ‘Rapunzel’, reflecting the princess letting down her long hair from a tower.

A book I purchased was called ‘Pork Party’. The triangular book folds out into a white paper plate showing all the pork based products you used to have at a party; sausage rolls, pork pies, scotch eggs, cocktail sausages and quiche. I thought the concept and execution was really nice!