Both genres often explore the limits of the forms a book can take, and its contents. They exist at the crossroads of literature and art, inviting visitors to experience books in new and surprising ways. They challenge our expectations: what a book is, how it works, and what it might look like?
Bibliophile editions are handcrafted in small print runs, with meticulous attention to design, paper choice, typography, and binding. Many contain striking illustrations or are bound in unusual covers. Artists' publications are artworks in the form of one or more books, where the artist has full creative control over both the form and the content.
The selection was co-curated by the artists themselves, who also share the stories behind their work. They range from author Tom Lanoye, who releases bibliophile versions of nearly all his works, to graphic designer Jelle Jespers and visual artists Nico Dockx and Zena Van den Block, who create art in the form of publications. You can also admire rare editions from the De Carbolineum Pers, a private press project by the late bibliophile publisher Boris Rousseeuw.
Let these extraordinary books surprise and inspire you, while you listen to the stories of their creators. A visit to the exhibition is also a chance to explore the legendary Nottebohm Room with an audio tour.
