kirjakäsityön

Kirjakäsityö, sometimes translated as bookcraft or book art, refers to the creation of books as artistic objects. This encompasses a wide range of practices that go beyond the purely functional aspect of a book as a medium for text. Instead, the book itself becomes the artwork.

The scope of kirjakäsityö is broad. It can include handmade books with unique bindings, altered books where existing books are transformed through collage, painting, or sculpture, and artist's books designed from conception as a singular artistic statement. The materials used can be traditional, such as paper, thread, and leather, or unconventional, incorporating found objects, textiles, or digital elements. The focus is often on the form, structure, texture, and visual presentation of the book, with content sometimes being secondary or even absent.

Kirjakäsityö explores themes of storytelling, memory, identity, and social commentary through the physical presence of the book. Artists working in this field may manipulate the book's narrative, its materiality, or its traditional function to evoke specific responses from the viewer or reader. It is a practice that bridges the disciplines of fine art, craft, and literature.