Kirjan edustalla on aukio ─ Maarit Bau Mustonen

An artist’s book by Finnish artist Maarit Bau Mustonen, transforming the history and memory of a former library into the structure of a book itself.

Kirjan edustalla on aukio is an artist’s book by Finnish artist Maarit Bau Mustonen.

The book centers on a single building in Vantaa, Finland, where Mustonen grew up. Built as a library in 1957, the building later became an art center for children and is now home to Galleria K. Mustonen attended the building as a child as a member of a children’s choir, and after returning to it several years ago, began thinking about how its history and the memories of local residents might be reactivated through a book-based installation.

A building originally made for books is, in turn, transformed into a book. Photographs of the empty gallery space are printed on the outer pages, while texts tracing the building’s history and changing functions are concealed inside pages whose top edges remain uncut.

The Finnish title means “A town square faces the book.” By replacing the word “building” with “book” in an otherwise familiar phrase, the title performs in language the same reversal that structures the work itself.

First edition of 150 copies.

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Title: Kirjan edustalla on aukio
Artist: Maarit Bau Mustonen
Graphic Design: Katri Astala
Publisher: Multipöly, 2026
Format: Hardcover
Size: 208 × 133 × 22 mm
Pages: 199
Language: Finnish / English
Edition: First edition of 150 copies
ISBN: 978-952-65122-6-6

Expected to arrive in late August. Free shipping in Japan on pre-orders placed by August 21.