The Book as Text and Object

The project, which began in 2002, aims to study the book as a material object, with particular emphasis on the art and technique of bookbinding during the Byzantine and post-Byzantine periods. A major focus has been the tradition of the art within the broader Greek context and the book cover as a repository of historical documentation. The project explored the terminology of bookbinding to create a cohesive proposal for the rendering of terms used by historians, conservators, and artisans to describe the book cover and its decoration. The research team also focused on the correlation between material evidence and representations in portable icons, mosaics, and frescoes from the Byzantine and post-Byzantine periods, as well as documenting a typology that reflects the artistic and intellectual currents of various periods. The project was funded by the Attica Region, excelling in evaluation, and by European research and dissemination projects. Collaborations were established with the Byzantine and Christian Museum, the Hellenic Bookbinding Society, the Municipality of Ioannina, the Archaeological Museum of Drama, local and public libraries, the Gennadius Library, the Library of the Hellenic Parliament, the Library of the City of Athens Museum, etc. In 2012-13, an exhibition titled “The Art of Bookbinding from Byzantium to Contemporary Artistic Creation” was held at the Byzantine Museum (Athens), attracting over 20,000 visitors and educational programs in more than 120 primary and secondary schools.

The project investigates and promotes the role of the book as a tactile object in connection with literacy policies. The role of the book as a tangible and tactile object is particularly significant in promoting the practice of reading, providing a multisensory experience, with touch, sight, smell, and hearing playing crucial roles, allowing the reader a unique connection to the content, enhancing the sense of immersion, and enabling personal interaction. Each book is highlighted as a unique object, reflecting the relationship of the owner with the copy. At this stage, the project focuses on studying sensory experience and showcasing unique book stories.