Dmitry Lavrov

Bookbinder

The explorer of bookmaking

Dmitry's books have been presented to international heads of state
One of his creations was a 23m long handwritten scroll of Silmarilion
He creates spherical book installations

Dmitry Lavrov is first and foremost a researcher – or as he puts it, an explorer. His explorer’s spirit initially brought him to biology, which he taught at St. Petersburg State University, but later led him to bookbinding. His books bring together different techniques, from repoussé and calligraphy to drawing and leather stamping. "It is a new approach to bookmaking, where the text, the visual concept of the cover and the crafts and technologies used in making it all become integral parts of a whole image that speaks volumes," Dmitry says. His books are not intended to be fine art objects; neither is he interested in blindly copying bookbinders of the past. What excites him is using the language of modern art to communicate a message and demonstrate contemporary methods of bookbinding.

Interview

Which of your works feels particularly special to you?: In 2017, I created a unique edition entitled Two Sides of a Page, an anthology of works by blind poets living in St. Petersburg with illustrations by blind artists. Traditional print was complemented by Braille script, thus creating both a visible and an invisible side for every reader, blind or sighted.
Why did you swap teaching biology for making books?: It was heartbreaking to watch the country’s education system falling apart, so I thought I’d find a more sensible way of putting my explorer’s skills to practical use. Thankfully, it turned out to be a very creative way, too.
What draws you to bookbinding?: For me this is just a different form of being an explorer, a researcher. Ultimately, what's essential is to push boundaries and dissect topics. When I make books I investigate the borders of human understanding of different issues. It is a thrill.
Can you give an example of that?: In my edition of Joseph Brodsky’s The Hawk’s Cry In Autumn, the case is made from ash wood in the form of a musical instrument with one string. When you take the book out of the case you create a sound. It is a symbol of Brodsky’s poetry as a virtuoso performance on a single string.

Dmitry Lavrov is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2000