8th International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius 2018

Home again after a wonderful journey to Vilnius to participate in the opening of 8th Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius 2018 – at the The Martynas Mazvydas National Library of Lithuania.

The Triennial, curated by Kestutis Vasiliunas, Professor at the Vilnius Academy of Arts, has been around for about 20 years. I have been with since 2003 – partly as an artist, and a few time I have been in the jury and participated in the selection. Therefore, the Triennial not only interests me in respect of it’s artists’ books, it’s also a welcome opportunity to see Vilnius once again, and meet with old friends.

Many artists and friends where present, so it was quite obvious to go out for dinner after the official opening. It was a nice evening in Užopiz.

As usual, it was a great pleasure to see my colleagues’ works – their diversity and high quality. In fact, the whole exhibition is a total delight and a huge source of inspiration! The artists’ books’re displayed a very beautiful and inviting dialog with a selection of the library’s old books and documents associated with the topic of the triennial “Memento Mori”. It may sound like a heavy and serious subject – but rather than delving into reflections about the approaching death which is unavoidable in the material dimension, the topic seems to have encouraged artists to reflect on life.

NB. The “8th International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius 2018” has already been on display at the Leipzig Book Fair, in the book art festival “Urbino e le Città del Libro” in Urbino, Italy. Following the exhibition at the National Library in Vilnius, it will move on to the SG Gallery in Venice, the Museo Leone in Vercelli, Italy, Evanston Art Center and Reed Library of the State University of New York at Fredonia, in the US.