The Swedish Book Art Association (Svensk bokkonst) promotes and celebrates quality in the book industry. 2024 marked nine decades since the association held its first annual book-art competition, which resulted in an exhibition and catalogue. Last year's competition attracted 250 entries. A small exhibition in the Old Library showcases the 25 winning entries.
The Swedish Book Art Association, or Svensk bokkonst, is a non-profit association founded in 1933 by the graphic artist and book designer Bror Zachrisson, who wanted to celebrate high-quality book publications. The association's first exhibition was held at Nationalmuseum the year after the association was founded. It quickly became an annual event. Nationalmuseum hosted the exhibition up until 1955, when the National Library of Sweden took over the role.
Today, Svensk bokkonst is made up of various organisations associated with book production. Each year, a jury of five to seven people chooses 25 books whose designs are cleverly adapted to their content in terms of typography and printing.
The winning books. Photo: David Frederiksen/National Library of Sweden.
The jury.
Catalogues. Photo: David Frederiksen/National Library of Sweden.
Svensk bokkonst’s 2024 competition attracted 250 entries, all printed and published the year before. The exhibition in the Old Library features the 25 winning entries. The books will also be entered in the international competition Die Schönsten Bücher aus aller Welt, which is shown at the book fairs in Leipzig and Frankfurt each year.
Certain elements, like exposed spines, tend to recur from year to year. Many of the books in this particular selection feature so-called Swiss bindings, which means the text block is attached to the back cover only. The spine and front cover are left loose, allowing the cover to lift away when the book is opened. The 2024 jury also favoured smaller formats, as well as covers with lighter colours.