From doodles to photos of mom: Flip through personal books of artists

Discover books as works of art at Chatterjee & Lal. Sketchbooks, scrapbooks, photo books, study books and book ‘museums’, pick these spined beauts that narrate artists’ way of being creative

Slip on the gloves you are handed. Rummage through textbooks with phone numbers scribbled in the margins; find a footnote on creativity in Assisi; read a poem dedicated to a father who is no more — through those pages and enter the intimate lives of artists.

Artist-animator Prashant Miranda’s study book is divided into chapters explaining the various stages in which the illustrator discovered his own brand of creativity. Here, he puts down his journey in Assisi, Italy in strokes and words. (Prashant Miranda)

Unlike most art exhibitions where you aren’t allowed to touch the works on display, at Zones of Privacy, which aims to look at books as art, you can thumb through diaries, sketchbooks, study-books, storybooks, photobooks, even a book sculpture. With contributors ranging from animators, graphic designers and photographers to painters and students, you can find the many innovative ways in which books are used.

Well-known photographer Dayanita Singh’s accordion-shaped photo books are also at display. You can observe how her travels have influenced her books here. (Dayanita Singh)

For instance, you may chuckle as you look through illustrator Priya Kuriyan’s notebook of loony sketches — complete with caricatures of a honeymooning couple at Delhi airport or a Sardar on a scooter, sketched in her trademark head-larger-than-body style. Or you could travel the world with photographer Dayanita Singh’s wall-mounted accordion-shaped photobooks, often referred to by the artist as a ‘museum’.

Photographer’s Sohrab Hura’s famous work, Life is Elsewhere is a part of the exhibition too. In this photo book he captures his relationship with his mother, who is suffering from schizophrenia. (Sohrab Hura)

The show has been curated by the book designer Rukminee Guha Thakurta, who is visiting faculty at National Institute of Design (NID), and includes many student works. Guha Thakurta says, “After teaching a brief Book Design course at NID’s photography department, students would bring in their books to me for critiques. Some of them were so keen to experiment with books that as a teacher, I was delighted. Around the same time the team at Chatterjee & Lal was discussing ideas for a show, and I immediately suggested one centred on books.”

Mumbai-based artist Nityan Unnikrishnan’s personal sketchbook has watercolour comic sketches, which mostly feature gloomy characters (Nityan Unnikrishnan)

The book designer adds that it is time books come into the commercial space of a gallery, as art works. “because some artists make books as an expression of their art, while others make art in books — just like some artists perform or paint.”

Illustrator-animator’s Prashant Miranda’s personal sketchbooks are part-travelogues and part-diaries. His reflections, thoughts and musings form a major part of his exhibited works. (Prashant Miranda)

Immerse yourself, then, in wispy, painted clouds from Assisi, Italy, accompanied by artist Prashant Miranda’s curlicue-handwritten diaries in his study book; or marvel at artist Nityan Unnikrishnan’s melancholic hand-painted comics. There are piles of experiences for the reader to dive in to.

Read: Personal letters that are touted to be the world’s most “inspiring and unusual” correspondence

WHAT: An exhibition looking at books as art by showing journals, sketchbooks, and photo books of artists

WHERE: Chatterjee & Lal, 01/18 Kamal Mansion Floor 1, Arthur Bunder Road, Colaba

WHEN: Until September 3, 11 am to 7 pm (Sundays and Mondays closed)

CALL: 2202-3787

ENTRY IS FREE

Read: Edgy book sculptures from around the world