A collection of writings about place space writing and art …
On Kawara was a 20th century Japanese conceptual artist who was influential in the New York art scene. Although he was widely know for his “Today” series or “Date Paintings,” many considered that the most personal and intimate of his works was “I GOT UP AT.” The series is part of a continuous piece produced […]
I Got Up At — Travel Between The Pages
During our recent visit to Paris it was inspiring to see the notebooks of Da Vinci that held hundreds of sketches and ideas on his varying interest. His expertise encompassed anatomy, engineering, astronomy, mathematics, natural history, architecture and painting to name a few areas that made Da Vinci one of the most versatile geniuses. But, […]
Studio YSL — Stylish Heath
It’s pretty obvious from my blog posts this year, and particularly my involvement in co-hosting with Lizzy the Fitzcarraldo Editions Fortnight, that I’m a huge fan of the publisher’s output. In fact, I credit their books with my rekindled love of the essay format as so many of their non-fiction works have taken that genre […]
“…death and the photograph as memento mori…” #indexcards #moyradavey @FitzcarraldoEds — Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings
“The process of photographing is a pleasure: eyes open, receptive, sensing, and at some point, connecting. It’s thrilling to be outside your mind, your eyes far ahead of your thoughts.” – Henry Wessel, 1942-2018, photographer
The German photographer Heinz Hajek-Halke concentrated almost entirely on montage techniques. Influenced by the great Dada and Surrealist innovators of the 1920’s and 30’s he experimented with solarisation and camera-less photographs. During WWII he turned to photographing small animals for scientific publications. The 1950’s however saw Hajek-Halke returning to experimental photography; he joined the fotoform […]
via Dreams of Desire 54 (Written on the Body) — cakeordeathsite
The concept of absolute time was abolished after Einstein’s mind-bending realization that time is nothing more than an illusion. Past, present and future exist simultaneously. Our past is not gone and our future already exists. What’s time? Killing time?Wasting time? Once upon a time? The most common phrases of all the time but What is […]
“You live and you suffer. To hell with it. You want a pizza?” — Antonio Ricci, The Bicycle Thieves, 1948, Italy. Portrayed by Lamberto Maggiorani. Foreign Film Academy Award 1949. Director Vittorio de Sica, 50 Greatest Films of All Time – British Film Institute more Roger Ebert Review: … Such films stand outside time. […]
via “You live and you suffer. To hell with it. You want a pizza?” — Art of Quotation
Today would have been Man Ray’s 128th birthday. He was born in Philadelphia on August 27, 1890 , and died in France in 1976. This American surrealist photographer and painter spent most of his career in Paris. He said: “I do not photograph nature. I photograph my visions.” “I never knew what I was […]
This week, New York City transit riders have been lining up to purchase special edition David Bowie MetroCards. The city’s Metropolitan Transit Authority has teamed up with Spotify to offer five different options each celebrating the late artist’s varied personas. The limited edition of 250,000 MetroCards is only available at vending machines in Manhattan subway […]
By Marcus D. Niski
A love of books and a love of creating art have inspired Salzburg book artist Markus Kircher to bring together a major selection of his book art works currently on display in the glorious traditional framed window of the Raiffeisen Bank located at the corner of Alter Markt 8 and Residenzplatz in the centre of Salzburg’s Altstadt.
Drawing upon a selection of 50 hand-painted and collaged books that began as blank books found in such eclectic places as India, Thailand and the local flea markets of Salzburg – as well as many hand-bound books made by the artist himself – the collection represents a form of retrospective of 25 years of Markus’ work as a book artist.
Indeed, one of Markus’ personal favorites also on display is a Goa travel book that was created on his first half-year journey to India; a book that takes him back to his imagination and artistic reflections of his encounters and impressions of India.
Recently, Markus also completed a major book art masterwork known as THE FAT BOOK – a stunning 756 page collection of unique images hand painted over the course of 3 years into an enormous beautifully bound old leather ledger book that he came across by accident in a second hand store in Vienna.
While Markus’ inspirations for his book art images have come from far and wide, his love of New York and his own hometown of Salzburg have provided much artistic resonance in the various images he creates in his painting and collaging. Like all artists, it’s difficult to pin down the inspirations given by exact locations and vistas; it more about impressions and “new views of old known places”, as Markus explains.
As an art form, Markus continues to explore and push new boundaries in his love of book art and the types and forms of books that he makes use of to paint and collage in.
While his book art collection is currently on display in Salzburg’s Altstadt, images of THE FAT BOOK will also be published as a 100-page catalogue by Salzburg’s Artbook Verlag http://www.artbook.at/ in November 2018.
Having visited Markus’ Salzburg atelier on many occasions and viewed the progress of THE FAT BOOK to its final fruition, it is very exciting to anticipate the publication of images from THE FAT BOOK that will no doubt delight and impress lovers of book art not just in Salzburg, Austria but in many parts of the world where book art and book artists continue to pursue this most passionate form of creative endeavor.
Visit Markus’ website at: www.markuskircher.net
Interview and Story by Marcus D. Niski © 2018
Book Art Images as Created by Markus Kircher © 2018
Photography by Marcus D. Niski © 2018
Naked Cities Journal 
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