Leporello #12-22, Arena-Dottir, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2009

the boxed set

A boxed set of 11 accordions/leporellos published by Leporello a marketing agency based in Copenhagen with each work being a collaboration between members of the Danish art and literary scenes. Although I could find no further information about these collaborations, I'm assuming the visual artists did the front and a writer contributed the texts that are typically on the reverse side. I have previously reviewed the first edition of this publication featuring #1-11 (2005) [see: Thomas Seest (ed), Leporello #1 - 11].

For more information about Leporello ("Leporello Business Solutions, We call it B.S. for a reason"), see: leporello.dk

The leporellos address all sorts of different subject matter, however I was not able to understand the Danish texts, so for me I could only experience the visual aspect of each accordion and their quality seemed to fluctuate somewhat. Nevertheless, this is a worthy project and anything that promotes collaboration between different sectors of the art community interests me!

Each accordion is comprised of 12 double-side pages, with individual pages measuring 4" x 3", and when fully opened the leporellos are 3 feet long.

note: click on images for larger versions

the eleven leporellos

#12: Nina Sos Vinther/Thomas Andersen

#13: Lars Skinnebach/Kristin Eiriksdottir

#14: Aleksa Okanovic/Birgitta Lund

#15: Christina Wendelboe/Ebbe Stub Wittrup

#16: One Horslev/Kasper Bonnen

#17: Maria Wandel/Martin Larsen

#18: Lars Frost/Rose Eken

#19: Seimi Norregaard/Morten Schelde

#20: Morten Sokilde/Trine Boesen

#21: Helle Hojland/Thomas Seest

#22: Lene Andersen/Ulrik Heltoft

 

The Procession of Dukes (Dresden), Rahmel-Verlag, Pulheim, Germany, nd

Measuring 334.5 ft (102 meters) this Procession of Dukes wall mosaic is located on a colonnade in the historic district of Dresden and features a collection of larger-than-life portraits of Saxony rulers dating back to the 16th century including Dukes, Electors, Kings and other leading figures from the arts and sciences. Consisting of over 24,000 Meissen tiles it is reputed to be the world's most extensive porcelain work of art.

This touristic accordion guide to the mosaic comes in three languages and illustrates the full length of the mosaic. On the reverse side are details about each of the figures portrayed. The panoramic qualities of the accordion are obviously ideally suited for documenting and illustrating a work such as this one and for educating visitors to Dresden about the city's long history.

My thanks to Guy and Mary for donating this piece to my accordion collection!

25 double-sided pages, individual pages 4" x 2.75" and when unfolded 5ft 8.5".

reverse side

James Turrell, Kijkduin: Celestial Vault Panorama in the Dunes, Stroom Den Haag, The Hague, 2020

A small accordion catalogue that includes photographic documentation and a brief explanation about this wonderful 1996 earthwork by the well-known American earth artist James Turrell and the directions for viewing this work in the dunes outside of The Hague, Netherlands.

The work consists of a bowl shaped ellipse with walls approximately 5 metres high and 30 metres wide & 40 metres long. In the center of this artificial crater is a large bench on which visitors are encouraged to lay with their heads looking towards the sky. A little further up, on the top of a slightly higher dune, is a similar bench. 

The catalogue relates how "In the bowl of the dune, you can see how the sky is a dome that changes shape. Along the carefully calculated bank of the slope, the eye is irresistibly drawn upward and you feel the nearness of the sky as though you could actually touch it. You notice how the space seems to bend into a dome that rests on the edges of the bowl...outside of the crater...you realize, perhaps for the first time, that the sky you are familiar with actually has a form. It is not infinite space that you see, but a finite vault."

Turrell constructed this piece after reading the work of the Dutch astronomer Marcel Minnaert (1893-1970) who wrote extensively about this phenomenon in his book 'Light and Colour in the Open Air' (1937). Minnaert found that the dome-like appearance was determined by the position of the head, and although "...he was unable to find a physical explanation for this. His conclusion was that this must be a psychological phenomenon: the form of the sky is the result of your own observation."

6 double-sided pages, individual pages 8.25" x 3.5" and when fully opened 1ft 10 inches.

reverse side 

back cover

Martoz (Alessandro Martorelli), Cigarette Break, Stamperia Artistica Inuit Edizioni, Bologna, Italy, 2014,

cover

cover with accordion

A really compelling panoramic drawing with a scratchy street aesthetic that has been folded down into nine pages by this well respected Italian illustrator and comic book artist. The following brief review of this accordion from lucca comics & games (Italy) sums it up fairly well, "The chaotic adventures of a charming lady to the rhythm of a frenetic blues that transforms into a whirlwind of provocative glances, stray cats and liters of caffeine. All consumed in the short space of a cigarette break."

9 double-sided pages, individual pages 11" x 4.5", and when opened 3ft 4.5".

back