The Beautiful Books of the Year
The Most Beautiful Books 2011 have been chosen. Traditionally the Finnish Book Art Committee awarded one book with the honorary diplomas for Most Beautiful Book of the Year. This year it went to Harry Salmenniemi´s work Runojä whose graphic design is the work of Markus Pyörälä. 24 books or series of books received the Beautiful Book prize. In addition, the ten most beautiful book covers received an award.
In awarding Runojä the Most Beautiful Book of the Year, the Book Art Committee stated, among other things: "The poetry of today creates a new form for the book of poetry. Just as in the poetry itself, all the senses are engaged by the cover. The typography, so instrumental to prose poetry, provides structure, surprises, entices and leads you enjoyably astray."
Another striking literary feature is the blossoming of new poetry. Its diverse world has drawn technical realization and graphic design into the poet´s artistic adventure. In addition to the Most Beautiful Book of the Year another work of poetry received an award. Beautiful Book Prize went to Mikael Brygger´s, Henriikka Tavi´s and IC98´s Tekstinauhoja. Its graphic design is the work of Patrik Söderlund.
Prose and Children´s Books
Four works of prose received awards. They were praised for their composed and easy body text, surprising aspect and effective typography. Of Martti Ruokonen´s design for Rosa Liksom´s book Hytti nro 6 it was declared: "Its harmonious format and skillfully selected typography are freshly today. The picture compilation on the overlapping inner covers open up a window to the Soviet period - illustrating the atmosphere rather than the text."
Four children´s books received a Beautiful Book Prize. For example, Minna Lindeberg´s book Allan och Udo, designed and illustrated by Linda Bondestam is deemed an anarchistic work: "Renaissance-like in spirit, the flower pattern of the inside cover combined with the fiendish collages make the work fascinating in its unconventionality."
Art and Nonfiction
The committee has received an ever-increasing ammount art books for consideration. It is quite natural that high-quality art encourages ambitious graphic design and layout. Eight art books were awarded prizes. Designed by Jari Karppanen, Silja Rantanen´s work is one of them. "All the elements of a good art book, with a little extra thrown in: a dust sheet opening up into a poster, inside pages opening up into double-size, refined calico."
Five non-fiction works from different fields were awarded prizes. For example, Sofia Häggman, Alldeles hemlikt. Georg August Wallins Egypten 1843-1845, designed by Camilla Penti has a fine appearance. "The printing quality can only be admired. The colour range is harmonious, the paper pleasant and the typography subtle."
A Book on the Most Beautiful books of
the Year
The Finnish book Art Committee received 203 works published in 2011 for consideration from pulishers, museums, educational establishments, societies and private individuals.
In March, the Finnish Book Art Committee will publish a book entitled Vuoden kauneimmat kirjat 2011 - The Most Beautiful Finnish Books 2011. With pictures and selection criteria, it presents books receiving awards. The book is not for sale but is on display at exhibitions. The awarded books are on display in the National Library´s Agricola room until May 2nd and after that elsewhere in Finland and abroad. The year´s most beautiful books are chosen in over 30 countries.
The Finnish book Art Committee began its operations in 1947. It´s purpose is to increase the value of books as book art totalities in which form and content support each other as well as possible.
Further information
Chair of the Finnish Book Arts Committee
Tuula Isoniemi
Tel. +358 (0)500 841 937
Press photos
www.kauneinkirja.fi/en/pressphotos/
Photos of books © Antti Huittinen
/ TO TOPPress release
