bokkunst

Bokkunst, or book art, is the practice of making books as art objects and as carriers of content, including artist's books, handmade bindings, typographic design, printed matter, and paper sculpture. It encompasses both the creation of individual volumes and installations where books are used as sculptural elements. It is practiced in the Dutch-speaking world and beyond.

The roots lie in long-standing traditions of binding, printing, and book production in the Netherlands and Flanders, but the modern bokkunst emerged prominently in the 20th century with artists treating the book as a modular, portable art form. The late 20th and early 21st centuries saw rapid growth of artist's books, small presses, and limited editions, expanding the field beyond conventional publishing.

Common techniques include hand binding (case binding, pamphlet bindings), letterpress and typography, embossing, debossing, foil stamping, screen printing, woodcut and etching, as well as paper engineering, origami-like folds, and pop-ups. Works range from concise text-and-image volumes to sculptural book objects and installations in galleries.

Practice is typically realized in studios, ateliers, and small presses. Artists may create limited editions, collaborating with printers, binders, and paper suppliers. Education occurs through art schools, workshops, and residencies, often alongside broader printmaking and graphic design programs.

In the contemporary scene, bokkunst intersects with conceptual art, archival work, and visual storytelling. Collections in libraries and museums preserve artists' books and related artifacts, while contemporary artists publish new work and participate in international exchanges, fairs, and exhibitions focused on book art.