A New Way of Looking at Books. Paper Universe – The Book as Art exhibition at the State Library NSW, Sydney

You would think that a book, is a book, is a book.

But not when it falls into the hands of some arty people who bring all their creativity to the page and end up truly changing our perception of what a book can be.

Join me for a mindboggling stroll through the Paper Universe exhibition at the State Library NSW. It may not make sense, but it will open your mind.

What Is Paper Universe – The Book as Art?

• The Paper Universe exhibition displays around 100 books as works of art, drawn from the Library’s collection of over 700 artist’s books.
• This is the first time the Library has staged a major exhibition of artist’s books from their collection.
• The books are large, small, whole or completely dissected. Poor books!
• They feature the most gorgeous handmade paper, delicate lettering or intricate origami folding.

• As the promotional blurb states, “Artists’ books break all the rules. They stretch, fold, sculpt and imagine the books as an object – not just something to read, but something to experience”. And, “the works challenge our expectations of what a book can be”.
• Yep, that about nails this exhibition.

• If you feel inspired to make your own book statement, you can attend a workshop, artist talks and tours. A workshop area (or makers space) is located adjacent to the exhibition and you are encouraged to pause a while and get hands-on, using the materials supplied to fold a secret letter, then add it to the participant’s wall. Go for it!
• If this sort of subject matter really appeals, you can search and request to view the artists’ books once the exhibition is over. Maybe further research will help me make sense of this show. 😊

Where Is It?

• 1 Shakespeare Place, Sydney – just on the edge of the CBD.
• The Paper Universe exhibition is located on Level 1 – on the opposite side (to the Amaze Gallery) of the Mitchell Reading Room.

When to Visit?

• The Library is open seven days per week from 9am-8pm, with slightly shorter opening hours on weekends.
• The exhibition is open until 3 May 2026.

Why Visit?

• To make your brain say, “What the….?”
• To transform your ideas of how a book can be more than just the written word.
• It’s free.

How to Get There?

• The easiest way to get to the State Library NSW is on foot.
• Alternatively, catch a taxi or bus, or the closest train station is at Martin Place.

Who is it for?

• This exhibition would appeal to art lovers as much as book lovers. True book lovers may not be impressed with the many indignities the books have been subjected to, but if they can see the art more than the original book, then they will enjoy it too.
• This is a very complex, dare I say “high-brow”, display and it may not be great for children. Not that the material is controversial or offensive, it’s just that it is incredibly detailed and deep.

General Comments:

• I will put my hand up here and say that this was not my favourite exhibition of all those I visited at the State Library that day. I think this was because I simply couldn’t understand the majority of it – it just went over my head.
• Also, the fact that I visited this one last, when I was tired and my brain was full, maybe contributed to the reduced enjoyment levels. I simply couldn’t process any more input. 😊

• It is a clever exhibition though and I could appreciate the skill of the various artists, and their vision of a book. Their book may, or may not, have words and yet it still tells a story.
• Those stories were historical, environmental, political or social, and many of the stories were not happy ones.
• It is quite a dark exhibition. The lighting is dim in the room (not great to really see the works in detail) and the whole thing has a very dark feel with very little humour. You certainly couldn’t describe it as fun.

• As you can imagine, Paper Universe has a tactile look and feel, although I doubt that the curator would be happy with me touching anything.
• Even the display/wall partitions etc are made from cardboard – really maximising the paper theme.

Reading the Library’s promotional material (which they encourage you to then use for origami) after my visit, they declare that the exhibition asks the BIG question – “why do we make art?” Unfortunately, I have no bloody idea!

Oh well, onwards and upwards…

Boggled, bamboozled or mesmerized? Which are you?

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