A collage featuring a woman and a bird

Gracia Haby and Louise Jennison, A deck of salvaged relatives (detail), 2015

Self-made: zines and artist books is a new exhibition showcasing the eclectic world of independent publishing, from exquisite handmade artist books to radical low-fi zines, opening at State Library Victoria on 11 August.

Developed in partnership with The Sticky Institute, Self-made will display rarely-seen material from the Library’s collection of artist books and its zine collection – the largest and most comprehensive in Australia.

Exhibition curator Monica Syrette said Self-made will take visitors on a journey through the colourful and sometimes controversial evolution of self-publishing.

“The history of zine-making and self-publishing is inextricably linked to influential counter-cultural movements and social activism.

“What we’re displaying – items like sci-fi zines from the 1940s, punk zines from the seventies and contemporary feminist zines – are all reflections of the political and cultural movements of the time.

“The artist books in Self-made were also ground-breaking, designed to circumvent the commercial gallery system and make art easily available to all.”

The exhibition features works by leading international artists including Swiss German artist, Dieter Roth; Pop Art influenced American artist, Ed Ruscha; pioneering conceptual artist Sol LeWitt; and renowned Australian painter, sculptor and printmaker, Robert Jacks; alongside works by contemporary artists and zine-makers.

More than 170 works will be on display, including a dedicated reading lounge, revealing the breadth and beauty of artist books and zines.

Self-made: zines and artist books will be on display at State Library Victoria from 11 August until 12 November 2017 and will tour Victoria and interstate in 2018.

This exhibition is supported by the Visions regional touring program, an Australian Government program aiming to improve access to cultural material for all Australians.

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