The book art/artist book in its digital dimension: E-book art and hyperbook-art

Abstract

The current digital context holds potential for creators of books art/artist books to go beyond their already innovative, dynamic, and fluid works of art in and around the book. The framework for developing these works of art has led to diverse offerings that need to be analyzed and systematized. This article presents the e-book art (electronic book art) and hyperbookart as two taxonomies that the book art/artist book embraces under the parameters of electronic and internet creation. Both meanings are defined and their pertinent conceptual and aesthetic properties and attributes are studied. Examples are given. The final reflections open several lines of debate about this digital scene, including the heterogenous role of the creator and audience, the authorship of the work, and the transformation of the work towards a multiple original.