Why books still matter to artists

AT THE CORE OF THE DIGITAL ART COMMUNITY

We live in the internet age where training is just a click away. But despite this we continually return to books. Even when learning could be gained online, educational book sales brought in £6.4 billion in the UK in 2020. Consumer book sales fared even better, rising seven per cent to £2.1 billion last year.

Clearly the printed word hasn’t lost its appeal, and for artists in particular, many have returned to the page. “Always,” states concept artist and director () as we ask if he still relies on art books for advice. “A book is an object with a physical and mental presence in my life,” adds the artist, whose own book Figure