Artists

An artists book is a limited edition book that is produced by
an artist or by a collective and that has aspects of
handmade work in it. The artists book has an edition
number and is signed by the artist/s who have worked on
the book as well as by the writer of the text if this is relevant.
The artists book may be in the form of hand printed
lithographs, lino cuts, letterpress or even hand written. They
are often made using an unconventional format and
unusual binding. There are not that many artists in South
Africa who make artists books (it is a time consuming
process and is something that the general public are not
really aware of).

Artists books allow artists to combine aspects of their
artmaking with text in novel and exciting ways. The edition
number for artists books produced in South Africa is usually
fairly small (100 copies or less). This makes artists books
relatively rare and collectable. The "can do" approach of
South Africans has extended to the production of artists'
books and has resulted in some unconventional
approaches to the concept. Graduates from the Wits
Technikon have done some very exciting pieces, which have
included handmade paper, sculptural elements, plastic
bags, fabric, embroidery and wire work. Artists books
produced by The Artists' Press have received international
acclaim and can be found in some of the worlds leading
libraries.

Any artists book produced in South Africa has to have a
copy, or a number of copies donated to the State Library
Collection. This ensures that South Africa as a country has
an archive of artists books produced in the country. It also
acts as a resource for people who are interested in artists
books but who cannot afford them.

One of the best and biggest international artists book
collections that of a Johannesburg Art patron, Jack
Ginsburg, who is also the founder and Director of the
Ampersand Foundation. This is a collection of contemporary
Artists Books and includes all the ones that have been
produced at The Artist Press.

There are a few specialised artists books dealers in South
Africa who deal locally and internationally. Clarkes
Bookshop in Cape Town sells all kinds of collectable books
and can be relied on for artists books. Johannesburg based
Thoralds Books caters for the serious collector and have
clients across the globe. They focus on work with an
Africana emphasis. The Art on Paper Gallery also sells
Artists Books and actively supports the idea of "democratic
multiples" which refers to artists books that are produced in
a format and at a price that is easily assessable to the
person in the street.

To look at what artists books are available from the Artists'
Press please go to www.artprintsa.com

Tamar Mason, artist and writer focusing on limited edition
investment prints in Southern Africa