OTHELLO:
If that the earth could teem with woman's tears,
Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.
(Othello, IV.i, 246)
OTHELLO – A BESTIARY (WITH FLORAL ADDITIONS)
A bookwork by Borbonesa
'Othello - A Bestiary (With Floral Additions)' is a wordless reworking of William Shakespeare's 'Othello' as an illustrated collection of common, rare and fabulous animals.
In removing the text, Borbonesa presents a deconstructed version of 'Othello' in which the storyline is plotted by the guinea-hens, baboons, blind puppies, strawberries and figs that inhabit the speeches of Shakespeare's human characters. These faunal and floral forms are arranged in their original sequence so the structure of the play is visually revealed.
'Othello - A Bestiary (With Floral Additions)' is illustrated by Ian Whitmore and issued in September 2011 as a concertina bookwork, with a foreword by Anna Fewster. It is available to purchase direct from Borbonesa and selected bookshops.
OTHELLO @ CENTER FOR BOOK ARTS HOLIDAY FAIR
Saturday 10 December 2011, 12-6pm
Center for Book Arts, 28 W 27th St, 3rd Floor, New York, USA
New Yorkers! Come to the Center for Book Arts Holiday Fair for a rare chance to peruse 'Othello – A Bestiary (with Floral Additions)' and other limited edition items by Borbonesa. The one-day fair features over 20 exhibitors selling an array of book arts related items.
OTHELLO @ YALE CENTER FOR BRITISH ART
Thursday 20 October 2011
Author: MDF
"I had rather be a toad, And live upon the vapour of a dungeon, Than keep a corner in the thing I love For others' uses."
(Othello, III.iii, 68)
The Yale Center for British Art has purchased the original 'toad' illustration from Act III, scene iii, along with a copy of 'Othello – A Bestiary (with Floral Additions)'. The toad and the bookwork will be exhibited next year as part of an show focusing on natural history and book arts.
OTHELLO – PURCHASE NOW!
Saturday 1 October 2011
Author: MDF
'Othello – A Bestiary (with Floral Additions)' is now available to purchase online and from a number of UK sales outlets.
The 54 page accordion paper is priced at £30.00 in the UK and $48.00 in the US. It may be had via the Borbonesa Etsy shop, or via Paypal, or by visiting a growing number of stockists including the ICA and Bookartbookshop in London, and Aspex Gallery in Portsmouth.
OTHELLO @ LONDON ART BOOK FAIR
Saturday 24 September 2011, 4-5pm
Publish and be Damned Soapbox, London Art Book Fair 2011, Whitechapel Gallery, 77-82 Whitechapel High Street, LONDON, E1 7QX
Borbonesa's new bookwork is shouted about, and up for sale for one hour only as we take over the Publish and be Damned soapbox at the London Art Book Fair on Saturday 24 September. The soapbox is a pop-up stall launching new and current publications by members of artist-run organisation Publish and be Damned.
OTHELLO – LAUNCH EVENT (LONDON)
Friday 16 September 2011, 6 - 8:30pm
Bookartbookshop, 17 Pitfield Street, LONDON, N1 6HB
Join Borbonesa in the capital for the launch of their new bookwork 'Othello - A Bestiary (with Floral Additions)'. At Bookartbookshop. The work remains on display in the window of Bookartbookshop until Thursday 29 September 2011.
MAP
OTHELLO – LAUNCH EVENT (PORTSMOUTH)
Saturday 3 September 2011, 6 - 9pm
New Theatre Royal, 20-24 Guildhall Walk, PORTSMOUTH, PO1 2DD
'Othello - A Bestiary (with Floral Additions)' is launched in Portsmouth's New Theatre Royal on Saturday 3 September 2011.
The event is free and includes a music by Robert Stillman.
OTHELLO – PRODUCTION DAY
University of Portsmouth | Thursday 1 September 2011, 10am – 5pm
University Portsmouth, Winston Churchill Ave, Portsmouth, PO1 2UP
Borbonesa seeks volunteers from the University of Portsmouth to assist with the construction of ‘Othello – A Bestiary (With Floral Additions)’. Each volunteer receives an induction in bookbinding and a copy of the finished item. Please contact us for more information.
OTHELLO – UPDATE
Author: Ian Whitmore
Thursday 14 August 2011
Borbonesa meeting in Portsmouth to discuss paper stock and deadlines. Lots to do in the next month, including coming up with some cover designs and creating ornaments for invites and promotion.
OTHELLO – UPDATE
Author: Ian Whitmore
Tuesday 2 August 2011
Feeling good this week as I have completed nine cutouts, including a mountain goat, death’s-head hawk-moth and mandragora, even though I managed to prick my middle finger with my scalpel.
OTHELLO – ARTIST TALK / CONVERSATION EVENT
Quay Arts (Newport) | Saturday 30 May 2011, 4:15pm
Quay Arts, Sea Street, Newport Harbour, Isle of Wight, PO30 5BD
Borbonesa discuss their current book production Othello – A Bestiary (With Floral Additions). The talk is free and follows the Quay Arts Artists’ Book Fair. Audience members are invited to participate in an open discussion with the artist Ian Whitmore and the production manager Matt Fleming.
OTHELLO – UPDATE
Author: Ian Whitmore
Sunday 1 May 2011
First cut-outs complete! I've decided to tackle all the elements over a two page spread to experiment with scale. I'm working smaller than normal, and trying to accommodate the page dimensions, but ultimately the cut outs will be scanned and (slightly) re-sized before being screen printed. I can tick off a dog, hound, parrot and Hydra.
Supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.