Skin Deep: artist's monograph

Skin Deep is a handmade artist’s monograph which I created to accompany artist Mary-Ruth Walsh’s exhibition Skin Deep.

As book artist for this project, I worked in close collaboration with Mary-Ruth and curator Catherine Bowe to develop the concept for this book using Mary-Ruth’s work as inspiration. I was very taken with one of the artworks ‘Aprés Eileen Gray’. This six-panel folding screen formed the centrepiece of the exhibition and I was drawn to the mechanics of it, something I felt could be reflected in the mechanics of the book.

After some experimentation, I came up with the concept of having a spine that mimics the six-panel artwork, using the same vivid pink and matte greys that were dotted through the exhibition. Into each of the peaks of the accordion spine, I hand sewed three signatures containing a mixture of colour reproductions of Mary-Ruth Walsh’s artworks and two essays by Dr. Yvonne Scott and Katherine Waugh. The centre page of the book features ‘Aprés Eileen Gray’.

My favourite thing about this monograph is the way it moves, sliding and unfolding in your hands. The grey cover has a mixture of blind emboss and silver embossing for the title. The grey is contrasted against the bright pink accordion spine.

I designed, laid out and handbound a limited edition of 250 books, each of which is signed by Mary-Ruth. You can buy a copy of the book here.

Kindly sponsored by the Arts Council of Ireland and the Wexford Arts Centre.