WIPE
Light-Weight Bookwork
Please send 40 sheets of printed toilet tissue. Open theme and technique, rubber-stamp, etc.
No organic materials or traces please.
On going project, no deadline. Edition made every 20 participants. Copy of edition sent to all taking part. Max size: 14cm x 11cm.
Send to: Field Study, P.O. Box 1838 Geelong, VIC 3220 Australia
So reads the callout for Wipe, a zine assembled by David Dellafiora of Field Study International, a global network of Fluxus-inspired artists/participants who collaborate via mail art to produce a range of artists’ books. Responding to callouts such as that above, people from around the world submit multiples of their works to be included in a range of eclectic publications.
Wipe has recently made it as far as the V&A in London, where it was displayed along with other works by Field Study International (see also our previous post on the zine ‘Kart’, another production by Field Study). Little wonder, as the artists’ books in the Wipe series contain a fascinating (and very delicate) array of rubber stamp designs printed on toilet paper. News of this international project certainly reached Canberra – issue no. 21 contains a leaf of toilet paper from none other than the National Library of Australia!
Wipe is a good example of how many items within the Nick Henderson Zine Collection occupy both the ‘zine’ and ‘artists’ book’ genre – what’s the difference? Good question! There are many similarities between artists’ books and zines – yet they are also considered to be quite different.
Artists’ books are books (or even book-like objects) produced by an artist – often collaboratively – who exercises a high degree of creative control over the content and production of the work. An artists’ book alters, adopts or experiments with the physical and conceptual properties of the book form as a means of artistic expression, integrating elements such as text, image, material and format to produce what is essentially a work of art in itself.
Zines are often called artists’ books. Although there are many common elements between zines and artists’ books in terms of their production and distribution methods, zines stand out due to the unique culture surrounding their creation. Zines are self-published, self-distributed publications belonging to a thriving sub-culture dedicated to underground alternatives to mainstream publishing. Artist’s books also incorporate the concept of democratic publishing, methods of hand-creation, and self-distribution – however, they lack the distinct culture that zinesters have created.
Zines are often more personal publications, whilst artists’ books tend to exist in a more artistic (rather than literary or social) context. Wipe for example, is referred to as an artists’ book by its creator David Dellafiora, and like all Field Study publications, is influenced by Fluxus, Surrealist and Mail Art movements.
As you can see, there are many close similarities between the two – which is why we are completely happy to catalogue many artists’ books as part of our Nick Henderson Zine Collection!
The National Library collects many examples of Australian artists’ books by notable book artists. So instead of heading to the art gallery on a rainy weekend, why not browse our catalogue and traipse on over to the NLA Reading Room instead?




I was wondering if you could tell me more about the Nick Henderson Zine Collection? I seem to have made some of the zines in it and am curious. Thanks!
Glad you have discovered some of your zines in our collection Shelley! Nick Henderson is a Melbourne enthusiast for the arts and contemporary culture, with a particular love of zines, comics, music etc. – less “mainstream” things that are often not well represented in library collections. Nick had accumulated a significant collection of zines from the last 10 years or so and the National Library was really delighted to purchase it from him about 12 months ago. We think zines are a very important part of Australia’s creative output and are keen to build our collection in this area. Nick has since also donated some additional zines and comics to the Library, which is great!
Some zine creators also send us their zines gratis, and we attend some zine fairs and distros when we can to acquire other items of interest – showing various styles and subjects so we can get a good representation of what is being produced.
Hi Melissa
Thanks for the WIPE plug, looks great! Been making WIPE for over 12 years, must be abit of a record for Zines, putting together issue 67 this week.
best wishes
David
12 years is definitely an impressive record for a zine David. Congratulations!