Dublin Art Book Fair 2023: Polyphonic

7 Dec-17 Dec 2023

Overview

Dublin Art Book Fair, Ireland’s leading art book fair and centre for artist books presents its thirteen edition. Taking place in Temple Bar Gallery + Studios over ten days, DABF champions small, creative and independent publishers, both Irish and international and artist books. Within this mix, over 500 newly published and unusual publications on art, design, visual culture, philosophy, architecture, select fiction and poetry will feature alongside a special section of nominated books led by Guest Curator Wendy Erskine.

Wendy Erskine has selected the theme Polyphonic, to be celebrated further through a programme of talks, readings, workshops, book events and participatory events. Interested in the prospect of innumerable viewpoints, stories or perspectives that can originate from single source, Erskine’s theme, Polyphonic celebrates the creation of an artwork that brings multiple voices together.

Erskine writes, ‘multiple voices; multiple narratives; multiple perspectives: the polyphonic. Whether it’s simultaneous or sequenced, whether it’s in visual art, text or sound, let’s celebrate polyphony in all its complexity and contrariness. Let’s explore this non-hierarchical, democratic mode which allows for plurality of expression and response. The polyphonic, a challenge to the controlling, totalising ‘I’.

Dublin Art Book Fair is saluted for how it embraces arts practices, publishing and artist-run culture at the intersection of art, design, writing, contemporary culture and contemporary life.