Exercise 2 Research task: Artists’ books and fanzines

Browse the American based Smithsonian Libraries’ Artist Book archive to identify books that you find interesting or questions the notion of the book in some way. https://library.si.edu/collection/artists-books

Explore fanzines in more depth by reading Teal Trigg’s chapter Definitions and early days (pages 6–43) from her book Fanzines: A do-it-yourself revolution (2010).

This chapter is available as a course resource on the student site. Document visual examples of work you find interesting with annotations in your learning log. You’ll be using some of this research in your first assignment.

What is an artist's book?

From researching artists' books, I found that each page is a piece of art, all carefully put together in a book. The book can be hand-made (making the books limited edition) books that have been bound in unique ways such as screws, string or folded into an accordion format. The books can be made of collage, paint, objects or, in my research, cyanotype photography. I found that the books can be on any subject, such as activism, expression, telling a story or even experimenting using any medium or technique and are the artist's representation and style.

While researching, I didn't find any digital artist books. I found this interesting because we are in the age of e-books, and I thought using moving images like video and animation would be popular. I'm still traditional in that I like to read physical books, artists' books do challenge the traditional publishing book formats by being unique. I also found that handmade artists' books give a more personal experience and if the book is made of different materials, this adds to the experience.

Most of the books I encountered were accordion-folded. I can see why these types of books are popular: They are versatile, and you can produce artwork that flows onto each page as you pull out the pages of the book. It adds anticipation and intrigue. I also found that many artists got really creative and made their own paper, which added more texture and dimension to their work.

Immerse yourself in nature

Fig. 1 Immerse yourself in nature (2020)

I found this interesting artist book called "Immerse Yourself in Nature"

I was drawn to this book because it has a concertina structure. I also press flowers and probably have many flowers pressed in books I have long forgotten about! I love nature, and this book appealed to me to look further. I love the natural colours and the use of the physical leaves and flowers in her book instead of drawings.

This book was handmade using 200gsm paper with five pages of pressed flowers and put together in a concertina style and then held together with brass screws. The size is 220 mm x 225 mm with a depth of 20mm.

Cyanotypes

Fig. 2 Pteridomania (2015)

I enjoy the look and feel of cool colours, and this artist's book grabbed my attention because of the cool blue colours. When I read the art description, I came across the word cyanotypes, I wasn't sure of the process, so I researched it.

"Cyanotype photography is a camera-less technique that involves laying an object on paper coated with a solution of iron salts before exposing it to UV light and washing with water to create stunning white and Prussian blue images" (Bagnall, 2023)

This artist used fern leaves on handmade paper, inspired by the Victorian era, when ferns were popular patterns.

Almost empty-collage

Fig. 3 Almost empty (2026)

This book is very different from the other artist books I have discovered. The artist uses a combination of stitching and collage in an accordion style. Where other artists have used nature to base their books on, this artist has used her life as a narrative in this art book. She used collages with metal keys, bottle tops and string to bring her book to life. The colour palette was more subtle than other art books I have looked at.

Tunnel book

Fig. 4 The garden (2016)

I was excited when I came across this artist's book. The tunnel book structure intrigued me because of the number of layers and detail needed to create this visually appealing book. On her website, the artist details how she produced the book.

The labour-intensive process was worth the effort because the tunnel book looks amazing! This theme was also nature-based, with a cool colour palette.

What is a fanzine?

A fanzine is a cross between a magazine and being a fanatic about something. Put together, it's a "Fanzine." A fan would produce a "Zine", which can be on virtually any subject or topic, such as music, culture, film stars, etc...

Anyone can produce a fanzine and doesn't have to follow the rules of censorship as in traditional magazines or news articles and they are independently published. Since fanzines are produced cheaply (usually photocopied), they are often not designed by a professional designer, so the author is involved in every aspect of the production, from writing and designing to final printing, usually in limited editions.

The birth of fanzines started in the 19th Century. Comics had already marked their place in the early to mid-1830s. Technology made the production and distribution easier, and the fanzines became more sophisticated. Amateur fiction booklets began to appear during the 1930s when science fiction flyers were produced. (Cesarato, 2008)

By the 1960s, fanzines had taken a more political and protesting stance. In the US, Zap Comix was a type of fanzine that dealt with controversial topics, which was the inspiration for independent publishers.

The UK had a significant punk scene from the 1970s to the 1980s, which became a cultural movement. Fanzines then were very experimental and typography, colour and texture came through. These were so popular with musicians they used the style for their album covers.

The best example was Sniffin' Glue, a fanzine with band interviews and live gig guides.

Fanzines are still produced today because they are unrestricted and independent and the use of technology allows for better-quality images, perhaps with more collaboration from designers, writers and illustrators.

With the start of desktop publishing and the arrival of the internet, the consensus was that the zine would die. However, online zines and blogs took off, the subject matter began to change to more political, feminism and LGBT+, the environment and obsessions. Although digital space has claimed its space, the traditional fanzine still has its place, with the process of making it appealing and tactile to the reader. (University of Reading, 2013)

Fig.5 Sniffin Glue (2024) Fig. 6 Ripped and torn (2024) Fig.7 Londons Outrage (2024) Fig. 8 Panache, 1 (2024)

Fig. 9 Panache, 2. (2024) Fig. 10 Zap (2008) Fig.11 Alfonso de Anda (2008)

Reflection

When researching fanzines and artists' books, I wasn't really familiar with them. However, upon closer research of fanzines, I have gained a deeper understanding of their historical context, particularly in relation to topics involving political issues. I personally haven't seen a fanzine in South Africa. I think currently blogs and social media give people the platform to post their issues and thoughts without repercussions. The internet seems to be a space that can't be regulated in the same way as printed media.

Artists' books are pieces of art and are unique, which makes them very limited editions. These books can't really be published in the same way as a publisher can print a run of paperbacks for example. Perhaps more artists' books will be produced to fill the gap left by publishers' limited edition covers, making artists' books even more exclusive.

References

Bibliography- Fanzines

Bagnall, L (2023) Cyanotypes: The origins of photography. At: https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/cyanotype-photography#:~:text=Cyanotype%20photography%20is%20a%20camera,white%20and%20Prussian%20blue%20images. (Accessed:01/08/2025).

Boone, M.B. (2016) The Garden. At: https://www.marybethboone.com/blog/2016/4/tunnel-vision-or-a-new-artist-booki (Accessed:01/08/2025).

Bosworth, M. (2015) Pteridomania. At: https://molliebosworth.com/artist-books/ Accessed: 01/08/2025).

Cesarato, A. (2008) What is a Fanzine? At: https://www.domestika.org/en/blog/3646-what-is-a-fanzine (Accessed: 01/08/2025).

Gorman, M. (2026) Almost empty. At: https://23sandy.com/products/almost-empty-by-mar-goman-sold (Accessed:01/08/2025).

Grant, S. (2020) Immerse yourself in nature. At: https://www.shonagrantsart.com/test-books/#immerse-yourself%20%20%20%20 (Accessed:01/08/2025).

Let's Talk About Fanzines and Why You Should Make One (2024) [YouTube Video] At: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOjlwctGfoM (Accessed:01/08/2025).

Reyonld, S. (2009) How the fanzine refused to die. At: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/feb/02/fanzine-simon-reynolds-blog (Accessed:01/08/2025).

University of Reading (2013) Punk and the Fanzine. At: https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/anarchy-in-the-uk/0/steps/232612 (Accessed:01/08/2025).

Worley, M. (2024) Zerox Machine. [edition unavailable]. Reaktion Books. At: https://www.perlego.com/book/4378834  (Accessed: 01/08/2025).

Images

Fig. 1 Grant, S. (2020) Immerse yourself in nature. [Image] At: : https://www.shonagrantsart.com/test-books/#immerse-yourself%20%20%20%20

Fig. 2 Bosworth, M. (2015) Pteridomania. [Image] At: https://molliebosworth.com/artist-books/ 

Fig. 3 Gorman, M. (2026) Almost empty. [Image] At: At: https://23sandy.com/products/almost-empty-by-mar-goman-sold

Fig. 4 Boone, M.B. (2016) The Garden.[Image] At: https://www.marybethboone.com/blog/2016/4/tunnel-vision-or-a-new-artist-booki

Fig. 5 Worley, M. (2024) Sniffin Glue. [Image] In: https://www.perlego.com/book/4378834 

Fig. 6 Worley, M. (2024) Ripped and Torn. [Image] In: https://www.perlego.com/book/4378834 

Fig. 7 Worley, M. (2024) London’s Outrage. [Image] In: https://www.perlego.com/book/4378834

Fig. 8 Worley, M. (2024) Panache, 1. [Image] In: https://www.perlego.com/book/4378834

Fig. 9 Worley, M. (2024) Panache, 2. [Image] In: https://www.perlego.com/book/4378834

Fig. 10 Cesarato, A. (2008) Zap [Image] At: https://www.domestika.org/en/blog/3646-what-is-a-fanzine

Fig. 11 Cesarato, A. (2008) Alfonso de Anda [Image] At: https://www.domestika.org/en/blog/3646-what-is-a-fanzine