ARTIST BOOKS
An introduction to the artist’s book making will be presented by John Gayer. He, as a member of Artist’s Association MUU and the MUU Kirjoittaa writing group, helped coordinate BOOKED Artists Book Events in Helsinki (2021 and 2022) and Stockholm (2023), and was a curatorial team member for BOOKED 2022. His illustrated talk will present an overview of the BOOKED exhibitions and address the diversity that defines the world of book arts in general. Since the appreciation of artists’ books involves experiences that are simultaneously visual, intellectual, and tactile, this introduction will also include a selection of artist’s books that participants can examine.
John Gayer is an art conservator, artist, and writer, and a Canadian who lives in Helsinki. He graduated from the Ontario College of Art, participated in the Banff Centre’s Winter Studio Program, obtained a bachelor’s degree in art history from the University of Toronto and completed a master’s degree in paintings conservation at Queen’s University. One major outcome of his studies and work experience is his interest in researching artists’ materials and techniques, and the ways their exhibitions bring their ideas and work together. This he explores by way of writing about exhibitions—in addition to his MUU Kirjoittaa texts, his writing has appeared in Sculpture Magazine, Espace art actuel, PVA Journal, Art Papers—and technical matters. The latter have appeared in conservation journals, such as NKF-Finland’s Konservaattori, Journal of the Canadian Association for Conservation and Meddelelser om Konservering, as well as the INCCA (International Network for the Conservation of Contemporary Art) website.
https://www.muu.fi/events-and-exhibitions/booked/