Like Europe, the Avant-garde movement flourished in Latin America in response to radical political and social changes. However, it distinctly differed from its European counterpart, as artists produced work more aligned with “humanism than with aesthetics.” [1] There was a stronger focus on the social role of art and experimentation with various mediums. Latin America's political climate and social dynamics significantly influenced the creation and intentions behind Artists’ Books. Before the development of Artists’ Books, poets and intellectuals collaborated, publishing small independent works and magazines to disseminate their voices on political and revolutionary topics.
The vanguardismo (“vanguardism”) movement of the 1920s and 1930s, along with the Beat Generation poets of the 1950s, embodied the dynamism and complexity of the contemporary world. Magazines like El Corno Emplumado (“The Plumed Horn”) from 1960s Mexico connected artists, beat poets, and writers across Latin America, publishing political and experimental literature while playing with typography and artistic visuals. However, many of these poets and artists faced censorship and political pushback, leading to a mass exodus to Europe in the 1970s. Despite being displaced, individuals from across Latin America came together, fostering new collaborations, publications, and a transcontinental network of artists. This marked the development of modern Artists’ Books and book objects.[2]
In 1975, Mexican artist Ulises Carrión launched the bookstore Other Books and So in Amsterdam. This bookstore showcased Artists’ Books and works from numerous Latin American artists and poets, enhancing their visibility and popularity worldwide. Many of these individuals later returned to their countries, bringing back collaborative influences and artist book creations. Although its duration was brief, running from 1979, Other Books and So sparked the creation of various publishing houses and information centers, such as Boekie Woekie, dedicated to producing Artists Books and art related printed materials. Artists’ Books have evolved with each country's political and cultural shifts. Yet, despite these changes, Artists’ Books in Latin America remain firmly connected to the human experience.
Footnotes
[1] Libros de artistas - Ulises Carrión. 1: Libros de artista. Madrid: Turner, 2003, 28.
[2] Hellion, Martha. “Artists’ Books from Latin America.” Printed Matter, January 25, 2018. https://www.printedmatter.org/catalog/tables/26.
