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On 14 August, a presentation of Instruction Readings, a series of artists’ books by Novi Sad–based author Ljiljana Maletin Vojvodić, was held at BIBLIOTHEKET Mari Lagerquist, the art library within Konstepidemin in Gothenburg.
Instruction Readings is a series of conceptual artist’s books that Vojvodić began in 2021 during her residency at TYPA – Printing and Paper Arts Centre in Tartu, Estonia. The works are made from discarded book covers and handmade paper produced from recycled pulp, using traditional bookbinding techniques.
Starting from the form of the book itself, the project explores the relationship between writing and reading, narrative and meaning, as well as the different ways in which a book can be made, read, and experienced.
Presenting the work at BIBLIOTHEKET is particularly significant because the book is shown here not only as an art object but also in its natural context. Rather than being presented in a conventional exhibition setting, the artist’s books enter the space of a library, blurring the boundaries between the artwork, the book and the act of reading.
The title Instruction Readings refers to the tradition of Fluxus and Yoko Ono’s Grapefruit, creating a playful engagement with the act of reading itself. The instruction becomes both a possible starting point for reading and an invitation to personal interpretation. The book is thus no longer simply a carrier of text, but a space in which reading takes place through material, structure, gesture and visual sign.
In her practice, Ljiljana Maletin Vojvodić, a writer whose work increasingly moves between literature, the artist’s book and visual art, explores the possibilities of crossing from one medium into another. Instruction Readings continues this practice: the book remains a book, while simultaneously becoming an autonomous work of art.
The presentation in Gothenburg also has a broader context. Konstepidemin is one of the city’s important art centres, bringing together different artistic disciplines and international practices. Maletin Vojvodić has maintained a connection with the centre through previous residencies, during which she also developed part of her artistic work related to Gothenburg.
This year’s presentation of Instruction Readings therefore continues the artist’s long-standing relationship with Gothenburg, while extending her ongoing exploration of the artist’s book as a hybrid space between literature and visual art.
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