{"id":2071843,"date":"2026-07-31T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2071843"},"modified":"2026-07-31T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T21:00:00","slug":"heritage-bookbinding-elements-transform-in-contemporary-sculptures-by-adelene-koh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2071843","title":{"rendered":"Heritage Bookbinding Elements Transform in Contemporary Sculptures by Adelene Koh"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1867\" height=\"1332\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/koh-4.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"a cylindrical, sculptural form made of folded paper that has been bound along the edges with colorful yarn in the tradition of bookbinding\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">All images courtesy of Adelene Koh and LOEWE Foundation, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Heritage Bookbinding Elements Transform in Contemporary Sculptures by Adelene Koh<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-31T16:24:28-05:00\">July 31, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-art\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/art\/\" rel=\"tag\">Art<\/a><a class=\"category-books\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/books\/\" rel=\"tag\">Books<\/a><a class=\"category-craft\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/craft\/\" rel=\"tag\">Craft<\/a><a class=\"category-design\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/design\/\" rel=\"tag\">Design<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"colossal-share-buttons\">\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--facebook\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F07%2Fadelene-koh-bookbinding-paper-sewing-sculpture-loewe-craft-prize%2F&amp;title=Heritage%20Bookbinding%20Elements%20Transform%20in%20Contemporary%20Sculptures%20by%20Adelene%20Koh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Share<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--pinterest\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F07%2Fadelene-koh-bookbinding-paper-sewing-sculpture-loewe-craft-prize%2F&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F07%2Fkoh-4-960x685.jpg&amp;description=Heritage%20Bookbinding%20Elements%20Transform%20in%20Contemporary%20Sculptures%20by%20Adelene%20Koh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share to Pinterest\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Pin<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--email\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email this article\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Email<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--copy\">\n\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Copy article link\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link colossal-share-button__copy\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/07\/adelene-koh-bookbinding-paper-sewing-sculpture-loewe-craft-prize\/\" data-label-default=\"Copy\" data-label-copied=\"Copied!\" data-aria-default=\"Copy article link\" data-aria-copied=\"Link copied to clipboard\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-live=\"polite\">Copy<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--bookmark\">\n\t\t\t<button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"476325\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>After visiting the New York Art Book Fair in 2011, Adelene Koh was smitten with the world of bookbinding. Her professional training commenced in Japan, then led her to London, and she\u2019s now based in Taiwan, where she runs a studio called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dddots.com\/about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dddots<\/a>. This year, Koh was one of 30 finalists for the <a href=\"https:\/\/craftprize.loewe.com\/en\/craftprize2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Loewe Foundation Craft Prize<\/a>, which celebrates innovation across a wide range of artisanship.<\/p>\n<p>As a bookmaker and conservator, Koh draws upon the technical precision and heritage of bookmaking to create unique sculptures using paper and thread. Her work \u201cEndless\u201d was included in the prize\u2019s exhibition of shortlisted artists, consisting of a kind of ouroboros-like cylinder of meticulously folded paper and edges stitched with colorful fiber. \u201cThe result is an endless loop of a book\u2019s spine and fore-edge bound together by the English <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Endband\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">endband<\/a> sewing techniques from the 18th and 19th centuries,\u201d says a statement.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/koh-1.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476325\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1976\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/koh-1.jpg\" alt=\"a cylindrical, sculptural form made of folded paper that has been bound along the edges with colorful yarn in the tradition of bookbinding\" class=\"wp-image-476356\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>Sewn endbands are not exactly invisible, but they\u2019re usually tucked snugly inside the cover. The thread is also not necessarily colorful, as it may be selected to blend in with the pages or other parts of the binding. For Koh, this underappreciated element becomes the highlight through vibrant combinations and rhythmic patterns. \u201cI\u2019m interested in bringing hidden elements of books into focus,\u201d Koh says. \u201cI\u2019m drawn to the overlooked, the sidelined, the parts that quietly support everything else.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The winner of this year\u2019s competition is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/tags\/jongjin-park\">Jongjin Park<\/a>, and Colossal readers may also recognize the work of finalist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/tags\/xanthe-somers\">Xanthe Somers<\/a>. See more on Koh\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/aduhlene\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/koh-5.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476325\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1608\" height=\"1160\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/koh-5.jpg\" alt=\"a cylindrical, sculptural form made of folded paper that has been bound along the edges with colorful yarn in the tradition of bookbinding\" class=\"wp-image-476353\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/koh-2.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476325\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/koh-2.jpg\" alt=\"a cylindrical, sculptural form made of folded paper that has been bound along the edges with colorful yarn in the tradition of bookbinding\" class=\"wp-image-476350\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/koh-3.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476325\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1814\" height=\"1272\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/koh-3.jpg\" alt=\"a cylindrical, sculptural form made of folded paper that has been bound along the edges with colorful yarn in the tradition of bookbinding\" class=\"wp-image-476351\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/koh-6.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476325\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1248\" height=\"901\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/koh-6.jpg\" alt=\"a cylindrical, sculptural form made of folded paper that has been bound along the edges with colorful yarn in the tradition of bookbinding\" class=\"wp-image-476354\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/koh-7.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476325\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1648\" height=\"1320\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/koh-7.jpg\" alt=\"a cylindrical, sculptural form made of folded paper that has been bound along the edges with colorful yarn in the tradition of bookbinding\" class=\"wp-image-476355\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget 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Foundation, shared with permission Heritage Bookbinding Elements Transform in Contemporary Sculptures by Adelene Koh July 31, 2026 ArtBooksCraftDesign Kate Mothes Share Pin Email Copy Bookmark After visiting the New York Art Book Fair in 2011, Adelene Koh was smitten with the world of bookbinding. Her professional training [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-2071843","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2071843","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2071843"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2071843\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2071843"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2071843"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2071843"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}