Artists Making Books at Waterstones Kensington

In the hands of an artist, a book can take on a radically different form, offering a novel means of expression. Studies of artists’ books often focus on those made in Europe and North America from the early twentieth century onwards, yet across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, artists have been creating books that tackle political and subversive themes and demonstrate their passion for literary traditions or modern poetry, while also telling personal stories.

Join former British Museum curator Dr Venetia Porter and Professor Lina Khatib, Director of SOAS Middle East Institute. They will be discussing Venetia's new visually stunning publication Artists making books: poetry to politics and the issues and themes raised by artists from Casablanca to Lahore.

Of the book, Edmund de Waal, artist and writer says ‘This is a remarkable book of vision, beauty and provocation. It maps the contemporary history of artists working with books into a landscape of poetry and politics, history and desire. It will be welcomed, studied and celebrated.’

Among the artists included in the book are Dia al-Azzawi (b. 1939), Issam Kourbaj (b. 1963), Etel Adnan (1925–2021), Shafic Abboud (1926–2004), , Muhammad Zeeshan (b. 1980), Nidhal Chamekh (b. 1985), Mohammad Omar Khalil (b. 1936) and Ala Ebtekar (b. 1978).

Ticket price includes a complimentary glass of wine or soft drink.