A Paper Universe expands in the library
Salvaged Relatives and With wings outstretched and quivering on display
Paper Universe: The book as art
Galleries, State Library of NSW
1 Shakespeare Place, Sydney, NSW
Monday 11th of August, 2025 – Sunday 3rd of May, 2026
Here’s to whirlwind trips, between wildlife and other ties, lest we missed the opportunity. To sighting people taking a selfie before the Salvaged Relatives in their modified costumes from the Ballet Russes. To playing the tourist, and just wandering, with weighted bags and a flexible timetable. In the yellow of ‘The artist’s eye’ and the green on ‘The natural world’, it was delightful to be reunited with two of our artists’ books, Salvaged Relatives, edition I (2014–2015), and With wings outstretched and quivering (2021), both from the collection of the State Library of New South Wales, on display as part of Paper Universe: The book as art. Curated by Maria Savvidis, the exhibition in the gallery upstairs at State Library of NSW runs until the beginning of May, 2026.
Pop in, should you be near. Make plans, should you be further afield. There’s much, by many, to see, in the colour pencil-like display.
The artist’s eye
If artists’ books by their very nature challenge the idea of what a book is, they are equally skilled at questioning what a book can be made from. Materiality expands the limits of what is possible with paper, design, structure and perspective — emphasising the physicality of interacting with the object itself rather than just its content. Unique examples here span several metres, contain constellations of tiny pinpricks or tessellations of precise geometric folds, pages are fused together into a monolithic form, separated into a gallery of polite strangers, appear ghostlike on translucent paper, encased in gleaming metal, or lead the viewer’s eye through tunnels of visions. Artists’ books continue to redefine form, material and concept. By exploring new physical and conceptual realms, artists’ books transform the idea of a book into a dynamic, multidimensional experience that transcends traditional definitions. They show us that our experience of the book, a form we have lived with for over 2000 years, has yet to be exhausted.
The natural world
The influence of nature continues to be one of the most enduring themes and inspirations in art across the centuries. Artists have always been drawn to the natural world, using its beauty and complexity as fuel for their creativity. Artists’ books continue this tradition while also presenting the profound impact of human activity on the environment. Artists’ books from the Library’s collection depict the intricate wonders of Australian flora and fauna, exploration of the vast land in historical contexts and contemporary urban experiences, introduced threats to habitats and ecosystems, catastrophic bushfires, nature’s resilience, and landscapes grounded consciously or unconsciously in our ideas of home. These observations and details are recorded on both grand and intimate scales. The unforgiving harshness of nature and its vulnerability, as well as its capacity for destruction and renewal are dualities the artists highlight — alongside reconsidering the decisions, attitudes and responsibilities that define our ongoing relationship with the environment.
— Paper Universe: The book as art
Wandering around the collections of the Australian Museum and Art Gallery of New South Wales, we were able to wrap our heads around scale, as we continue work on two new projects in the wings. Though these projects are unrelated to the spaces we explored, or perhaps because they were unrelated, it was easier to get a sense of proportion. Distance, too, played a part, making everything clearer. A palette was found, as well.
These views from this time last week. Who’d have thought it, enquired the Magpie.
Image credit: Angelsite. Toussit Mine. Gebel Mahser, near Oudja, Morocco. 5.5 x 3.5 x 0.23 cm. Registered 1996, D.50456. Albert Chapman Collection. Carl Bento, Australian Museum.
