Dress up the books
- Dolores' favourite objects are books
- She opened her first workshop in 1993
- Some of her works are at the Real Biblioteca of Spain
Through binding, books are preserved, protected, cherished, and become an even more precious object. For each book, Dolores Baldó devises a specific design and painstakingly applies decoration in a variety of contemporary and traditional materials, creating a one-of-a-kind allure. Dolores is a perfectionist, and believes her binding should reflect the spirit of the book in design, materials, colours and techniques employed. In her vision, artistic binding complements the book. Her aesthetic is contemporary and the date of the edition does not define how she approaches binding and decoration. Several of Dolores' works are held in Spain at the Real Biblioteca, the Biblioteca Nacional and the Biblioteca Celestino Mutis, as well as in private collections in Spain and abroad.
INTERVIEW
When I was a student I used to make my own notebooks and I decided to bind my thesis for my final exam. The result was poor but since I had immensely enjoyed the process I decided to delve into this world and attended a school to learn more.
It encompasses and combines a manual process and a more intellectual one. Making and using my hands as well as devising the best technique and choosing materials, I find this very rewarding and stimulating.
I see the book as an entity with words, a layout, cover and illustrations. All these elements need to be taken into consideration when devising and designing how to bind it, so yes I would say the book itself is my inspiration.
Many of the techniques I use are traditional but the wording, materials and decoration are contemporary. I mostly use leather, but also wood, metal and acetate. It is a combination of traditional and innovative materials.
