Bookings: An Exploration of Books as Art
đź“Ť North Dakota Museum of Art
📅 March 13 – June 29, 2025
The Bookings exhibition delves into the multifaceted ways in which books have been transformed into artistic expressions. Showcasing works from the museum’s permanent collection and beyond, this exhibition highlights books as more than just vessels of text—they are sculptural objects, cultural artifacts, and sites of creative experimentation.
Despite predictions of its decline in the digital age, the book remains a resilient medium, thriving as a space for collaboration among writers, artists, and publishers. Its accessibility sets it apart from traditional art forms; unlike paintings or sculptures, books invite immediate interaction, as viewers instinctively know how to turn their pages. Furthermore, books serve as guardians of cultural narratives, containing histories, laws, religious texts, and works of fiction that shape our collective identity.
Some pieces in Bookings explore the book’s journey through social spaces—circulating among readers, shifting contexts, and being collected and preserved. Others reflect on the metaphor of the library, a symbol of human knowledge, shared histories, and at times, devastating loss. When libraries are damaged or destroyed, we lose more than physical objects; we lose the stories, identities, and memories they safeguard.
Featured Artists
Barton Lidicé Beneš – A sculptor known for incorporating unconventional materials such as currency, relics, and personal artifacts to create thought-provoking and often politically charged works.
Mickey Smith (US/NZ) – A conceptual artist and photographer who investigates the presence and disappearance of books and archives, emphasizing their social and historical significance.
Micah Bloom – A multimedia artist and printmaker whose work explores themes of materiality and storytelling, often incorporating bookmaking and print processes.
Xu Bing – A globally acclaimed contemporary artist from China, recognized for his innovative approaches to language, text, and cultural narratives, merging traditional Chinese art with modern conceptualism.