The “1st International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius 1997” was organized in Vilnius, in the capital of Lithuania, in the Gallery “Kaire Desine”. The theme of it was “Diary: Eight Days”. 62 artists from 13 countries were selected for the Triennial.

The purpose of this Triennial was to incite artists to create conceptual works which correspond to the offered theme. I wanted to provoke artists to create not only what they could and what they invented in their realm. While rejecting the „beautiful“ book conception as being snobbish and commercial, I wanted them to conceptually reflect on the given theme. Not to confine themselves only to their experiences and moods, that was my aspiration.

The “2nd International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius 2000” in Vilnius in the Gallery “Arka”, and in 2001 in the “Galerie 5020” in Salzburg. The theme of it was “Apocalypse”. 140 artists from 29 countries were selected for the Triennial.

The “3rd International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius 2003” took part in 2003, in the “Contemporary Art Centre” in Vilnius. The theme of it was “23 Sins”. 119 artists from 37 countries were selected for the Triennial. After the exhibition in Vilnius the Triennial was showed in 2004 in “Frankfurt Art Fair” in Frankfurt on Main, Germany; in 2004 in Thomas Mannas’ House in Nida, Lithuania; in 2004 in the Gallery “Le Carre” in Lille, France;

The “4th International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius 2006” took part in 2006, in the Gallery “Arka” in Vilnius. The theme of it was “Rabbit and House”. 132 artists from 29 countries were selected for the Triennial. After the exhibition in Vilnius the Triennial was showed in 2007 in “Leipzig Book Fair” in Leipzig, Germany and in “Seoul International Book Arts Fair”, South Korea.

The “5th International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius 2009” took part in 2009. The theme of it was “Text”. For the Triennial jury selected 134 artists from 34 countries. The Triennial was showed in “Leipzig Book Fair”, in Germany; in Gallery “Arka”, in Vilnius; in “Art Centre Silkeborg Bad”, in Silkeborg, Denmark; in “Hübner Bokform”, in Halmstad, Sweden; in “Scuola Internazionale di Grafica”, in Venice, Italy.

The “6th International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius 2012” took part in 2012. The theme of the Triennial was “Love”. The international jury selected 131 artists from 33 countries for the exhibition. The Triennial was showed in “Scuola Internazionale di Grafica”, in Venice, Italy; in “Leipzig Book Fair”, Germany; in the Gallery “Titanikas”, Vilnius; and in “Kloster Bentlage”, in Rheine, Germany.

The “7th International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius 2015” has to be in 2015.

For all Triennials were published special conceptual catalogues.

Kestutis Vasiliunas

Curator of the Triennials

© Artist’s Book Creators 2013