Words About Words: artist's book

'Words about Words' handmade artist book with blue, purple and green cover

Handmade collage with red tongues and golden semi-circle by artist eilis murphy

Collage with elephant on green textured background in artist's book by eilis murphy

C is for cacoepy - B&W collage in artist's book by eilis murphy

Eilis Murphy handbinding her artist's book with needle and white thread

‘Words about Words’ playfully explores the language of lexicography, using 26 captivating collages to bring to life esoteric terms, from abecedarian to zeugma.

This handbound artist’s book subverts one of the oldest literary genres – a children's alphabet book – to illustrate unfamiliar yet fundamental words about language. Éilís is fascinated by how words evolve: falling in and out of use, being repurposed and given new layers of meaning.

Each book is unique by virtue of hand-painted paste paper, which gives the cover the chalky feel of a painted canvas. This paper decoration technique has been used by bookbinders since the middle ages.

ISBN: 978-0-9935770-2-4

It is available to buy for €28 here: https://www.foldedleaf.ie/shop/words-about-words-artists-book

CollectionÉilís Murphy28 February 2022artist's books, Eilis Murphy artist, handmade books, limited edition books ireland, artist's books ireland