Behind the Books 2021

Behind the Books was an exhibition of the Most Beautiful Swiss Books 2020 in London hosted by Mathias Clottu and me with a scenography by the designer Bahbak Hashemi-Nezhad. It took place between 21 October and 6 November 2021 at Tenderbooks.

We also organised an evening of talks at the Swiss Church on 27 October 2021.

Matthew Stuart & Andrew Walsh-Lister (Bricks from the Kiln) gave a lecture-performance / live reading on the book as medium, material, index. Mathias Clottu presented the publication he designed for the artist Richard Tuttle, The Stars – published by Modern Art – which was awarded in this year's competition. Finally, Guillaume Chuard (Studio Ard) and the artist Tenant of Culture discussed their recent collaboration on a monograph awarded in this year’s competition.

The Most Beautiful Swiss Books competition was established to promote and reward the best of book design in Switzerland at the behest of the famous typographer and designer Jan Tschichold in 1943. The Swiss Federal Office of Culture organises it on an annual basis. Its purpose is to recognise excellence in the field of book design and production, as well as drawing attention to the array of remarkable and contemporary books by Swiss designers, printers and publishers.

Behind the Books was kindly supported by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture and the Swiss Embassy in London.

Photos by Thomas Adank.