Seoul exhibition examines art books as sculptural objects of paper, typography, texture
Books are almost universally judged by the text on their pages, but a new exhibition in Seoul invites audiences to look beyond words and consider how paper, typography and binding can elevate a physical volume into a standalone work of art. Presented by Seoul Art Book Bogo — a public cultural facility operated in tandem with the Korean Publishers Association — “Artbookgraphy: A Landscape Where…
A new exhibition in Seoul is challenging the traditional view of books as mere vessels for text and images. "Artbookgraphy: A Landscape Where Art and Publishing Intersect" invites visitors to explore how paper, typography, and binding can transform a physical volume into a standalone work of art. The exhibition, presented by Seoul Art Book Bogo, a public cultural facility working with the Korean Publishers Association, runs through December 6 in Guro District, western Seoul.
This marks the venue's first major survey dedicated to art books since its founding in 2022. Unlike trade publications, art books purposefully blend tactile form with thematic substance, treating cover materials, graphic layouts, and structural binding as integral components of artistic expression. According to Oh Ji-eun, director of the Seoul Metropolitan Library, "An art book is more than text and images — it is an artwork enjoyed through its cover, paper texture and the very act of turning its pages."
The exhibit aims to encourage visitors to reconsider books as more than just a source of information. By highlighting the aesthetic qualities of art books, the exhibition hopes to broaden the audience's appreciation for this unique form of artistic expression.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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