Eva Engstrand
I create books. I write text, draw, print by hand (although some prints are printed digitally), bind books. (The only thing I don’t make myself is paper.) Each book becomes a unique craft object. That’s why what I do is called Artists’ books.
The materiality of the book (form, material, technique) plays an important role in my practice. A certain way of binding can provide a starting point for the content of a book. A particular measurement of a book page or a certain quality of paper gives me an idea that leads to an image that in turn leads to a text. Or vice versa. Improvisation and limitations trigger my creation but also certain persistent themes such as insignificance, obsession, demons and monsters. Plus the desire to play with language (rhymes, dialogues), with the image (vector graphics, collage) and with the book as a container and space for storytelling. Sometimes the storytelling flows out of the book’s frames and becomes short animations and paper collages.
Background
I studied graphic design in the 80s (Konstindustriskolan). Since then I have worked as a freelancer with various design assignments in parallel with being active in the design education at HDK (now HDK-Valand) at the University of Gothenburg. On the side, I have occasionally worked with my own artistic activities. For the past eight years I have been able to devote myself entirely to making books by hand.
