(THIS IS NOT) A BOOK is the first thorough study of the history and actuality of the artist book (a book realized by a visual artist, whether or not intended as a work of art) in Belgium. For some years the classic book has again been threatened in its existence. The increasing digitization of information and communication irrevocably sidelined the more 'inert' media.
The artist's book, on the other hand, has just received an amazing comeback lately. For a large number of visual artists, the paper book turns out to be a medium with a particularly great appeal. Specialized publishing houses (often staffed by artists) are seeing the light. Exhibition catalogs are now almost always conceived by the artists themselves. Museums and collectors focus more and more on the contemporary and historical aspects of the artist's book.
Despite the recent revival among artists, the artist book remains an underexposed subject in recent art-historical practice. Moreover, the input of Belgian artists is completely absent from the international overview and reference works. The research project (THIS IS NOT) A BOOK, wants to map out the contributions of Belgian artists and publishers to the history of the artist book.
