As of: February 27, 2024, 3:07 p.m
By: Sven Trautwein
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What might sound like a car atlas from the 1970s is the most beautiful book in Germany in 2023. A book about mussels.
At the beginning of September the most beautiful book in Germany was chosen.
The “Book Art Foundation Prize 2023” is endowed with 10,000 euros and this year goes to “Shell Reader”, which was published by the Berlin publisher Bom Dia Boa Tarde Boa Noite.
Just as the book “Beach” combines stories from the sea, “Shell Reader” is about shells.
In its most beautiful form.
“Shell Reader” was voted Germany’s most beautiful book in 2023.
© Lutz Wallroth/Imago
“Shell Reader” presents around 300 full-page close-ups of shell fragments.
These characterize the book accompanying an installation by the Swedish artist Nina Canell, as the press release states.
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What literally supports our book-making world is the material paper.
The jury found the mother-of-pearl shimmering endpaper to be an excellent choice, the book pages feel like textile, and the rough cut edges of the book actually remind you of a shell.
The incredibly beautiful overall concept and harmonious cover design acts like an extension of the gallery, giving the visitor plenty of space to breathe and reflect.
Sonja Pham
The installation is complemented by the “Shell Reader”, which creates an impressive book block made of heavy paper.
The wide three-page book cut shows numerous deep scratch marks.
The edges of the pages are worn, while the shimmering mother-of-pearl on the inside cover stands out.
These allegorical qualities of roughness and shine surround the content, according to the
Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels e.
V.
This is how the treasures of the sea appear in their purest and most beautiful form.
“Shell Reader” won out of over 600 entries.
“Shell Reader” shows how pretty and elaborately made books can be.
The choice of paper and the design of the book cut alone are something special.
Commercial publishers are now increasingly relying on colored book cuts.
They look great on color-sorted bookshelves.
For some readers, the simple book cuts are not enough and they skillfully embellish individual copies with brushes and paint.
Almost too beautiful to read.
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Nina Canell “Shell Reader”
2023, BOM DIA BOA TARDE BOA NOITE, ISBN-13 978-3-96436-057-1
Price: 56 euros