Turning worlds

This plan chest display of artists’ books, zines and comics is drawn from our special collection of Artists' Books. 

Turning Worlds looks at contemporary independent and artists’ self-publishing practices. Focusing on works that particularly utilise drawing, it surveys the exploration of the book as a visual medium and as an artwork.

The display begins with two detailed, hand-drawn and photocopied comics by Olivia Plender.  The Adventure, The Ecstasy, The Evil Genius, The Agony, The Suspense…: The Masterpiece Part 4 – A Weekend In The Country [2005] features a striking, shadowy cover composed of vignettes from the story within, which is told in series of 24 ink drawings on paper.  Plender’s work focuses on various specific historical moments and spans a range of media; however drawing and research are central to her practice.  This highly stylised dark graphic novel set in 1950/60s London references comics, films, posters and familiar horror storylines from this era.  The narrative follows the peculiar adventures of Nick, a clichéd and troubled painter, while the format and theme addresses and juxtaposes ideas around mass production, originality and artistic genius.