Recycled Library: Altered books

Tracing a history of altered books in Australia through the work of seventeen artists, Recycled Library: Altered books incorporates existing and found books presented as sculptures, wall-based collages, artists' books, and photographs. During an era in which the printed page is in danger of being superseded by digital technology, the connecting element in all the work is a continuing fascination with the iconic significance and primacy of 'the book'.

The exhibition focuses on works that have a conceptual, political or social concern and range from the 1970s conceptual works of Paul Partos to the beautifully carved books of Kylie Stillman. Other artists include Simryn Gill, Marion Borgelt, Jayne Dyer, Julie Gough, Paul Hoban, Liz Jeneid, Yvonne Kendall, Archie Moore, Janis Nedela, Ti Parks, Patrick Pound, Alex Selenitsch, David Sequeira, Glen Skien and Hossein Valamanesh.

Recycled Library: Altered books is a national travelling exhibition curated by Michael Wardell for Artspace Mackay and toured by Museum & Gallery Services Queensland. The exhibition tour is supported by the Contemporary Touring Initiative through Visions of Australia, an Australian Government program, and the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian Government and state and territory governments.