Although this photobook has as the author Laia Abril, the principal photographer, the reason that this photobook has impressed me is due in great part to its conceptual design, a collaboration by Abril’s long-time partnership with the Spanish book designer Ramon Pez. As a book object, the design and subsequent production attributes are critical. To summarize; Abril and Pez have not shied from this thorny inter-continental and multilayered cultural, political and religious land-mine like the subject of Abortion. They provide ample evidence of how over the years many women have suffered extensively due to their reproductive capabilities. The book design reinforces the internal narrative as if to state; nothing is very easy or as straightforward as it might first appear. An absolutely brilliant photobook.
Douglas Stockdale is an artist and the Editor/founder of The PhotoBook Journal. As a book artist, he has self-published three artist books and been published once. The TPBJ over a ten period has published over 500 contemporary photobook reviews. He is on the faculty of Los Angeles Center of Photography (LACP) and represented by Fabrik Projects (gallery) in Los Angeles. His studio and residence are in Orange County, California. www.douglasstockdale.com
