The Book from Bangkok or Kintsugi Book.

We remember the Book from Bangkok ? As it dried out large cracks and stress points began to appear. At first I was a bit miffed but that is the way things go. As the cracks began to stabilise I looked on then not as a disaster more what we in the trade call "A design opportunity" 

Taking inspiration from cracked pavements and the art/craft of the repair of ceramics with lacquer and powdered gold - Kintsugi ( golden joinery ) some times also referred to as Kintsuuroi ( golden repair )

As a design opportunity I like. Keeping with this theme I will be making a stand for the work.

The Journey Continues to Manila.

After a comfortable flight on Emirates, yes comfortable in economy class, I arrived in Manila. Following a hectic taxi journey to my digs and a shower and change I was met by Nadja and Enan of Alunsia Handbound Books

Two charming and gifted binders working north of Manila, creating some stunning work. I really think what they do is so cool. We had a chat shared techniques etc

www.facebook.com/Alunsina.Handbound.Books

Please check out their work.

Dubai College

Along with The Doors I was also asked to give a lecture about bookbinding and book arts and a couple of workshops.

I personally think that for the festival to include the bookbinders art a very positive step forward.

I wonder how many people, standing in line to have the latest novel by his or her favourite author think about what they clasp so tightly to their chest. How the book has become what it is ? Where it all began ? The complexity of manufacture or just how amazing it is that all the different elements that go in to a book have fallen into place over the last 2000 odd years ...... That was my lecture, with images of both ancient and modern, each relevant, each an important step and with many more to go.

One of the workshops was at Dubai College, as part of the festival outreach programme. I was with about 15 sixth formers in the art department. The workshop was meant to be for 2 hours, I think we did 4 hours. We had so much fun and I hope the students managed to learn something. They were great.

One of the students, Azmina, won a small quiz we had. " What is a little odd about my name ?"

Her prize was to bury one of my books... lucky person.

The following images are courtesy of Jane Bailey ( tutor Dubai College )

After one month and half an hours worth of rain.

Dubai Literary festival... not all work.

A day out for the authors and me or is it I ?

Fantastic food, good company and a cool creek at the end of it all. Though Dubai is know for the glass and steel buildings there are still pockets of the old town left. Get out of the shopping malls and explore.

Dubai Literary Festival, doors in place.

We arrived fresh from Emirates Airline (many thanks to all the staff and a cracking breakfast at Stanstead) a day before the main body of the lit fest folk to enable us to work on our doors.

Predictably at every point I was stopped and bags searched.... What was I doing with a single woollen glove ? Why is the bolt painted blue ? What is a bone folder ? After explaining and drawing diagrams and a lot of miming I was let into Dubai. Met by some of the Lit Fest staff and whisked away to the hotel centre. A blissful night in preparation for the day to follow.

I wish I had images of us working, outside ( the hotel people did not want paint on their new floors ) In temperatures reaching 90 in the shade (if we had shade) By the end of the day we had finished, installed our doors alongside 3 local artists and went to the bar for a well deserved soft drink.

Other things for Dubai...

A last minute, well last few days order for a presentation book for one of the main Festival Bods.

Bags Packed.

Bags were packed, passports checked and tickets printed.

All the preliminary work was completed in the studio, this should be fun going through security !

So, over the last 6 or so weeks what have i been up to ?

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2013

Preparing for the bookbinding workshops........

Leda, the hole and the vellum are on.

Leda. The hole, with vellum around it.

For those of us who know Leda the swan feather is a crucial part of the design. Of course when I did not need to find a swan's feather they were a penny a pound. I spent a day wandering around various areas of water near the studio........ it was raining !

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2013

With about one month to go to the EAFL I am beginning the preparation of a new lecture and working out the materials for a work shop and a master class. Other things are on the boil as The Doors move to Dubai.

So, you ask, what has the Ministry of Funny Walks got to do with books ?  Come to the lecture and find out. For more information go to...... .www.eaifl.com

Leda, Leather on.

Ok, I know that it looks all over the shop at the moment. Trust me, I am a bookbinder. I have selected s piece of vellum to cover with. It is beautiful and I will be using one of the holes in the skin to add a swans feather, a little gold and a little colour.

This will be so simple in appearance, perhaps minimalist almost. Looking back at some of my work over the last few years that have been exuberant and robust (reflecting the content) Leda will test me.

I enjoy a challenge.

Designer Bookbinders Lecture.

DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS LECTURES   Spring 2013

 

The Art Workers Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1

Nearest underground stations: Holborn and Russell Square

Admission: DB members & full time students £5, non-members £7, per lecture

Further details from Mark Cockram: 0208 563 2158 / studio5bookarts@aol.co.uk

 

WILLEM de BRUIJN Tuesday 5th February 2013  6.30pm

 

                         ‘OUTSIDE THE TEXT’: SOME DECORATIVE ENDPAPERS IN THE ARCADIAN LIBRARY

This evening’s illustrated lecture will concentrate on Willem’s research into (and work on) decorative endpapers. As librarian of the Arcadian Library, Willem is able to combine his interest in making with access to rare historical material and will aim to highlight some decorative endpapers that he considers of special interest in this unique collection. He will also talk about the way in which this research feeds into his practice as an editor and designer of some academic publications.

 

 

 

Willem’s background is in architecture. He completed a PhD in History and Theory of Architecture at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, in 2010 (his MSc in Architecture was obtained from Delft University of Technology). His doctoral thesis looks at books and their making with specific reference to the exchange of knowledge between architecture and alchemy during the early seventeenth century. In this context he coins the term ‘book-building’ to denote the way in which authors, publishers and craftspeople collaborate in the construction of a book. As part of his research, he undertook to learn basic skills in bookbinding at Morley College. Willem has since tried to integrate an amateur’s love of binding and paper decorating with in-depth research into historical material and with the design of academic publications (primarily for the Bartlett School). He is happy to cover these varied facets of his practice and try to show how they relate, with an emphasis on the role of decorative endpapers.

 

The Arcadian Library is a private, family-owned library focusing on the shared cultural heritage of Europe and the Arab World. For further information, please visit www.arcadian-library.com

 

The Great Sausage Roll Off.

You may very well ask what I do when I am not making books.

The last week or so I have been making the award for the Great Sausage Roll Off. A competition to be held at the RED LION PUB in Barnes, 30th Jan 2013 (check out their blog)

Something like 20 teams are taking part ! There will be 4 professional judges with the audience being the 5th.

Roll on the 30th.

The Book from Bangkok. After a week or so of drying.

I love it. Now to create an assemblage.

LEDA. A Double Hollow, Vellum Binding.

Leda is now ready for the first phase of covering. The spine will be bound in leather.

The head and tail of the spine piece has been built up. This is to allow for the vellum to sit flush.

Detail of the built up area on the spine and board edge.

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. 5th - 9th March 2013.

I have no idea how this has happened, but I am a guest speaker at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.

I will be giving workshops and a couple of lectures. See you there.www.emirateslitfest.com

Back from Bangkok, drying out.

Though the book was frozen for 24 hours to kill everything off I have re-frozen it. Now is the drawn out process of drying out.

The colours are amazing a month and a half in the soil.....

The final result from Bangkok.

Looks fab, many thanks Maya for the use of your garden and the images.

HAPPY TIMES

Everyone have a good and peaceful time.

Congratulations to all the Studio members and students past and present for making it a great year.

Books in a Bangkok Back Garden number 3