From creating and making etchings at an Italian-inspired ‘Print Kitchen’, to exploring the role of First Nations design, and examining historical and contemporary publishing practices, the 2023 Melbourne Art Book Fair offers audiences the opportunity to discover some of the world’s best independent publishers, art book makers, authors, galleries and more.
Curated by the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) as part of Melbourne Design Week, 18 to 28 May, and celebrating Melbourne’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature, the 2023 Melbourne Art Book Fair features a diverse program of workshops, talks, symposiums, readings, performances, exhibitions, and launches at venues across Victoria.
Now in its ninth year, the free Stallholder Fair at the NGV Great Hall, 19 to 21 May, will gather independent publishers, art book makers, established publishing houses, and art galleries. Participants include Arts Project Australia, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki (New Zealand), Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Bloomsbury Publishing, Case Publishing (Japan), Perimeter Books, Kids’ Own Publishing, Lindsay Magazine, ODD ONE OUT (Hong Kong), Tai Snaith, Uro Publications, and more.
New to the 2023 Stallholder Fair is an Italian restaurant-inspired activity presented by Melbourne artist Artek Halpern-Laurence, titled Print Kitchen, exploring tactile and hands-on art making techniques. This free activity invites visitors to create their own etching print guided by a menu using ‘cooking’ tools and ingredients. When sent to the kitchen, ‘cooks’ will process the etchings through a large hand-spun etching press and deliver the print in a take-away pizza box.
Continuing the Italian dining theme, a coffee cart will serve espresso and biscotti, while Gallery Kitchen offers trattoria-inspired dishes including antipasto, pasta salad and tiramisu.
On 19 May, the Art Book Fair kicks off with a full-day publishing and design symposium at NGV. Presented by RMIT School of Design and NGV, key International and local industry leaders will examine publishing as a critical practice throughout history and across contemporary disciplines.
A conversation space in NGV’s Federation Court will host free hourly talks, book launches and readings from leading designers, publishers, and artists on 20 and 21 May. Talks include Art Publishing in Aotearoa, bringing together leading creative practitioners to discuss art publishing in New Zealand, plus Artist Syllabus: Ying Ang presented by Melbourne Art Library, exploring the themes and influences central to Ying’s practice.
Other program highlights over the weekend include a range of graphic design talks on typography and design legacies including perspectives from designers, researchers and publishers; as well as conversations addressing new and experimental publishing models from Australian publishers.
During Melbourne Design Week, 18 to 28 May, a satellite program of more than 50 Melbourne Art Book Fair events will reach communities throughout Melbourne and regional Victoria at venues including Collingwood Yards, Centre for Contemporary Photography, Castlemaine Art Museum, Platform Arts in Geelong, and Everybody Knows Books in Ballarat.
On 23 May, the NGV will present Resistances in Indigenous Design, a lecture and panel discussion to profile Indigenous design practices that have resisted colonial ideals and European aesthetics, producing significant projects lead by First Nations values and communities. Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Warrung academic and artist Tiriki Onus will be joined by First Nations artists and designers Lisa Waup, Jenna Lee, and Aotearoa-based Desna Whaanga-Schollum. The NGV presents this event in partnership with the Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development, University of Melbourne, and the Victorian College of the Arts.
Melbourne Art Book Fair takes place 18-28 May 2023 at venues across Victoria. The Stallholder Fair takes place from 19-21 May in the Great Hall at NGV International, Melbourne. Further details can be found on the website: artbookfair.melbourne
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