Do a Book | 做一本书 Opening at White Space Gallery

Do a Book Group Exhibition and Installation is a project that has been in the works for years and is finally opening with over 25 talented artists in White Space Gallery in Caochangdi from 3PM-6PM on Saturday, February 18, 2012. The month-long exhibition will be on display until March 18, 2012.

Curated by Katherine Don and George Chang, they say this project “is devoted to exploring the medium of artist books and text-based art works and combines our obsessions with books and art and paper things”.

“After rounding up more than twenty five artists to work with us on this, including some of our all-time favorites, its finally happening. We are really excited to make this show happen, the first of its kind in China, and hope you have a chance to come see it.” – Katherine Don, curator of ‘Do a Book’ Group Exhibition

Here is a taste of what’s to come: 

Tom Bell Hair Sketches (2007) Hair, hand-made paper, vellum 35 x 35 cm / 13 3/4 x 13 3/4 in Unique Photo Credit: Copyright Tom Bell

章 森 George Chang (b. 1973) One After Another (2004) Woodblock printing on paper and silk Box set of 8 small albums 16 x 11.5 x 1 cm 18 x 13 x 6.5 cm (box) Edition of 9

Ain Cocke Penetrating War Stories (2012) Book, Brass .45 Caliber Shel Casing, Rock Sugar, Death Valley Salt, Synthetic Fur from Children’s toy, Ink, Glitter. Size variable. Approximately 25 x 25 x 38 cm / 10 x 10 x 15 in. Unique

So what does all this mean? How are these books made into a medium of art?

“Through a variety of media and processes, the artists’ objects presented in this exhibition highlight the varied interpretations of the book: as a vessel for information or narrative, as an abstract form that transcends function, or as a medium referring to a book’s social role. The juxtaposition of these works created by artists of different backgrounds and from cities around the world provides a starting point for exploring the relationship between text and imagery, and in a broader sense, the role of the book in the arts.”

Some of the artists featured include:

Tom Bell, Lukas Birk,章森 George Chang, 张能杰 Rutherford Chang, 陳龍斌 Chen Longbin, Ain Cocke, 郭鸿蔚 Guo Hongwei, 洪浩 Hong Hao, 黄敏  Huang Min, Ravikumar Kashi, 孔国桥 Kong Guoqiao, 梁志和 Leung Chiwo, 刘任Liu Ren, 马军 Ma Jun, 掉对 Out collective, 庆庆 Qingqing, Kiki Smith, Sarah Sze, Rirkrit Tiravanija, 曾建華 Tsang Kinwah, Heimo Wallner, 王超 Wang Chao, Terry Winters & Ben Marcus, 徐冰 Xu Bing

If you’re keen to check out this exhibition, there’s also plenty other events going on in the Caochangdi area.  Make it an art day and check out other openings in the area including Chambers Fine Art, Alexander Ochs and Pekin Fine Art.

Event Details:

• Opening Date: Saturday, February 18, 2012 from 3PM-6PM
• Exhibition Dates: Feb 18^th  – Mar 18^th ,2012 
• Location: White Space Beijing 空白空间 in Caochangdi
• Address: 北京朝阳区机场辅路,草场地255号 100015, 
• No.255 Caochangdi, Airport Service Road, ChaoYang District, Beijing, 100015
• Tel: +86 10 84562054
• Curated by George Chang (章森) and Katherine Don (唐凯琳)

Chen Longbin陳龍斌(b.1964) Peeper Series 窥视系列 (2009) Used hardcover books with spyglass and model figurines Size variable. Approximately 21.5 x 15 x 5 cm; 21.5 x 15 x 5 cm; 23.3 x 15.5 x 3 cm; 24 x 16.5 x 4 cm; 24 x 16 x 3.5 cm Unique Photo Credit: Copyright Chen Longbin