Rare Book Club: unfolding metres of a concertina artist book
In our second episode, Anna Welch, Senior Librarian History of the Book and Arts, unfolds a remarkable concertina book from Melbourne artist and former fellow Angela Cavalieri. Le città continue (Continuing cities) is a hand-printed lino-cut layering text within a receding arch motif.
The work is a response to Italo Calvino’s Le città insibili (Invisible cities), and Cavalieri explains, ‘I wanted to create the sensation of entering or re-entering a city. It feels like a continuous journey, and although cities vary, it appears that you are in the same space and can dissolve into it.’
Watch the video above for a close look at the book, and view the item in our collection.
About Rare Book Club
Welcome to the Rare Book Club, a show-and-tell video series where we explore, inspect and marvel at some of the unique and extraordinary rare books in the Library’s collection.
Ranging from medieval manuscripts and early printed books to 20th-century modernist literature and contemporary artist books, the Rare Books Collection is full of fascinating holdings just waiting to be shared.
More to explore
- Learn more about the Library’s Rare Books Collection
- Support the Rare Books Collection