Traditionally designed to teach children to read through a simple yet effective design of presenting letters of the alphabet alongside corresponding images and/or words and rhymes, the display traces how the centuries-old alphabet/ABC book has influenced more recent artist’s book styles and alphabet books for adults. In particular it looks at how these use the simple structure to address important issues and messages, such as social activism.
The exhibition cases are structured around the alphabet, with the section 'A is for Ox' featuring representations in children’s books, sculptural objects and artists’ books which show the pictorial origins of the alphabet. This section shows how early writing relied on pictures as symbols for objects and over time these images evolved into abstract 'shapes for sounds' that formed the basis of our modern alphabetic systems. In the section 'B is for Babel', artists’ books and children’s books present writing systems from runes to Cherokee to remind viewers that there is not one alphabet but many, and that alphabets like animals can become endangered, even extinct. In a colourful case dedicated to animal alphabets, visitors will see how animals in particular provide endless inspiration to alphabet artists.
At the end of the exhibition, the works on display and others from the Books On Books Collection will be donated to the Library.
Alphabet’s Alive! runs through January 21, 2024.
