‘Aosdána Beginnings’, designed by CI Studio, has been awarded a coveted bronze bell at this year’s ICAD Awards.
The hardback publication, which tells the history of Aosdána and how it was founded in 1981, was written by Mark Duncan and commissioned to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Aosdána. It is hardback with a white cloth cover, Swiss bound with a white textile binding strip. Encasing the hard cover is a fold down dust jacket and, when unfolded, reveals Aosdána member Mairead O’hEocha’s ‘Thinking Statue’ artwork.
The front cover of the dust jacket is emblazoned with a foil coated, simplified version of Aosdána’s symbol, the Torc, a neck ornament given to an elected Saoi for singular and sustained distinction in the arts. This reduced symbol is echoed through a blind deboss on the hard cover with the detailed symbol appearing on the first text page. A bronze metallic ink is used sparingly throughout the body text, jumping out in key points such as pull quotes. Full solid bronze chapter breaks, house member artwork in full colour, acting in juxtaposition to the black and white imagery throughout the text pages.
The publication was published in November 2022, and made available to the public at the beginning of this year. Free copies are available by emailing aosdana@artscouncil.ie or phoning Arts Council reception on + 353 1 618 0200