Thirteen days of rain and finally today is sunny. I've finally finished my Bologna book, photographed it, and it's ready to deliver in time to meet the deadline for the exhibition. Aaaaaaaaargggggh. It took so long. Bologna is one of my two favourite cities in the world. (The other is Barcelona.) When I saw a wonderful Peter Lyssiotis artist's book of Paris at the AGNSW, it was very abstract to me, who doesn't know Paris at all (I'm a Rome girl). It gave me the idea that I could make a Bologna book, which would also be an ode to red, and possibly incomprehensible, unless you know something about Bologna. 
Each page is painted, in a sort-of faux fresco in many layers of acrylic paint and medium like the red buildings in Bologna. Then I let the paint cure before working on the images. On the cover I have used three colours of bookcloth to abstract Bologna's famous towers . 
The endpapers are copies of an oldish map of Bologna I got on ebay, scanned, printed and treated with shellac. The book starts with the things that Bologna is famous for - not only 'la rossa', but also 'la dotta, and 'la grassa.' The book begins with the lighter side of Bologna, but then becomes political and 'dark' and leads towards 'la strage di Bologna.' Bologna is full of arcades, and I have made stencils from photos of the light and shade that is created by the pillars. 
The image with the arrows is where the book begins to become political. The arrows point right and left (destra e sinistra) - the choices in politics, and the arrows made by the stitching on the spine reflect this too. And guess what is behind the red blind when you lift it up?
Each page is painted, in a sort-of faux fresco in many layers of acrylic paint and medium like the red buildings in Bologna. Then I let the paint cure before working on the images. On the cover I have used three colours of bookcloth to abstract Bologna's famous towers . 
The endpapers are copies of an oldish map of Bologna I got on ebay, scanned, printed and treated with shellac. The book starts with the things that Bologna is famous for - not only 'la rossa', but also 'la dotta, and 'la grassa.' The book begins with the lighter side of Bologna, but then becomes political and 'dark' and leads towards 'la strage di Bologna.' Bologna is full of arcades, and I have made stencils from photos of the light and shade that is created by the pillars. 
The image with the arrows is where the book begins to become political. The arrows point right and left (destra e sinistra) - the choices in politics, and the arrows made by the stitching on the spine reflect this too. And guess what is behind the red blind when you lift it up?
6 comments:
Gorgeous... Are you going to post every double page spread anywhere?!! pretty please?
I agree. Absolutely gorgeous! I'd be interested in seeing all those page spreads too.
What an interesting book!!!!! Super idea!!
Beautifully done! Love the symbolism you created with simple shapes and colors.
What can I say? This is stunning - I can't wait to see it. Is Bologna going to the AGNSW exhibition or somewhere else? The colours just sing on the page - the stencils work so well - I think you've really made something beautiful, I'm so impressed. And hey, isn't it great to see the sun again?
Lovely book. I love the color palette, of course. Your comment on my blog (thanks!) led me to your site, and I've enjoyed browsing. It's always a pleasure to "meet" another book arts enthusiast.
And, although Radio National Australia may not cover the same programs at NPR in the U.S., you can still access the web site and catch the podcasts of certain programs.
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