In 2022 the 8th Melbourne Art Book Fair brings together ideas and practices that seek to explore the connections between art, design, publishing and language.   

In the 1960s and 1970s groups such as Art & Language (a conceptual artists’ group) and the Milan Women’s Bookstore Collective questioned assumptions around mainstream publishing, art and storytelling; their work had a social base and was anchored in the sharing of ideas. These conversations generated many collaborative works that took forms beyond that of the traditional book; they included installations, poetry, performances and reading groups.   

This collaborative practice continues today, with writers, artists and designers experimenting with the form and function of language through publishing, performance and collective action to make work that asks questions of the contexts around art and design. 

In 2022, the Fair celebrates work that defies definitions and looks to encourage representation of contemporary publishing practice and its provocateurs.