Radnelac is a Radical Almanac which reads ‘Calendar’ when spelt backwards. It works on the premise of 31 days instead of the traditional 12 months. To check 4th of July you’ll have to turn to page no. 4, and for Christmas, you’ll have to visit page 25. There’s space if you wish to jot your favored turkey recipe.

This year, the 31 designs of Radnelac are inspired by Walter Gropius’ Bauhaus Movement that began in Germany in 1919. Simplicity sans ornamentation became the most influential wave in modern design, architecture, industry and typography. Interestingly, ‘Bauhaus’ is an inversion of the German term ‘hausbau’ which means ‘house building’ or ‘house construction’.

With this calendar, don't just welcome 2025. It works for 2031, 2042, 2053, 2059, 2070, 2081, 2087, 2098, 2110, 2121...

© 1996 by Priya Pereira

In partnership with Rumi Tops, Ghoomar Tops is another movable artists’ book that takes the form of a traditional dance from the princely state of Rajasthan, India.

It has a front and a back page that is complete only once the wooden toy (figurine of a woman) is fitted to the center of the page. The front page talks about the Indian dance form Ghoomar (spinning) which is performed by women in colourful attire. Hidden in the multi-coloured text on the back page is a traditional Ghoomar saluda’ (song) from Udaipur, Rajasthan appearing like a colour wheel when spun in motion.

Rumi Tops and Ghoomar Tops is available individually and as a set.

© 2021 by Priya Pereira

‘Unnumbered’ is an artists’ book which explores the only, remotely mathematical component of a page strewn with words - the page number. Though typically relegated to a tiny portion on the bottom, top or sides of a page, the importance of a page number in a book cannot be underestimated. In ‘Unnumbered’ it appears unchanged but slowly and steadily infiltrates the text to eventually prove its point.

The book carries the true story of Ramanujan, the Indian mathematical genius using original text from ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’ by Robert Kanigel, as a medium to convey its idea. A copy of ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’ will be given complimentary with each copy of Unnumbered.

This book looks like any other paperback novel, actually disguising its artists’ book nature, till you flip a few pages.

© 2022 by Priya Pereira

A joint mother-son collaboration resulted in a book with three sections. Two parts black – night, one part silver – moon. Black text on black pages, silver text on silver pages, hidden, unhidden like the moon in the cloudy night sky… like the moon in the book.

The silvery effect of the moon was created using waraq – typically an edible avatar of silver, beaten into fragile sheets, traditionally smeared on Indian sweets. This version of waraq is decorative and inedible. This craft is mainly practiced by the Pannigars, a community originally hailing from Afghanistan, but settled for generations in Jaipur, Rajasthan India. For ‘Moon’, waraq was sourced from an original Pannigar family who gave me the material and also taught me how to use it on the book.

‘Moon’ is a completely handmade book – hand-applied Waraq, hand-lettered and hand-bound. The body of the book is thick-set with thick pages, fat letters and globs of silver. Even the poem holds gravitas, in stark contrast to its light and luminous subject.

 Amev Camilo Pereira, my younger son, wrote the poem after a month of living alone this February in his namesake grandfather’s village house in Goa, India.

Handling the book will leave you with bits of Waraq on your hands, a generous offering from the silver moon.

© 2024 by Priya Pereira

Rumi Tops is a movable Artists’ Book which takes the form of Whirling Dervishes. It has a front and a back page that is complete only once the wooden toy (conical hat of the Dervish) is fitted to the centre of the page. The front page enlightens readers about the poet, the dervishes, their attire and fluent movements that seek a mystical union. The back page is laced with timeless quotes of Rumi and appears like a flowing white robe when spun in motion.

Painted with organic lacquer and vegetable dyes, the wooden top is hand-crafted to our specification by 5th generation artisans from the celebrated Wooden Toy Town of Channapatna, India.

Artist Statement: Our introduction to Rumi was during the worst period of our lives only to realize in time the value of his words - “Don’t dismiss the heart, even if it’s filled with sorrow. God’s treasures are buried in broken hearts.”

Rumi Tops and Ghoomar Tops is available individually and as a set.

© 2021 by Priya Pereira

As the name suggests, there’s no particular way in which to unfold Puzzle de Brasil. Open left to right, right to left, north to south or vice-versa. One clue: follow the colours of Brazil - blue, yellow, and green to make it easy for you.

© 2007 by Priya Pereira

This soft, leather-bound book, serves as a sentimental timekeeper. A tacit way for people, so near yet so far to keep in touch. Parent and child, lovers or siblings. It bridges the two geographically, as it did for Priya and Tony, now husband and wife, from Memphis to Bombay.

Artist statement: This is the first artists’ book I made, born out of a wish to know what the time was in Mumbai and what Tony would be doing at all times. Though I was in Memphis, it made me feel closer and connected to Tony.

© 1996 by Priya Pereira

This book serves to highlight the technique of punishment - also known as writing ‘lines’ in school. It monitors the numbing process of the mind. What starts innocuously as a repetition of a line gradually degenerates into an exhaustion of the words carelessly looping and sloping, and finally exhibiting the physical and mental blurring of the intellect. Which is exactly what an imposition sets out to do.

© 1999 by Priya Pereira

Factory made paper is complemented by homemade onionskin paper. While it takes minutes to buy one at a shop, it took one hundred and twenty-one hours to painstakingly put together a 2.5”X 3.25” onionskin paper at home. Within its pages a charming ditty pays homage to the Mighty Onion.

Artist statement: This little book was made early in my life as a book artist and gave me the courage to stick it out during the years I wasn’t even aware that something called book arts existed.

This book is made to order. Please enquire.

© 1999 by Priya Pereira

This is a book that richly illustrates various avatars of the evil eye and thankfully offers several cures. The book is bound using a black thread that is typically used to ward off the evil eye. Interestingly, every single page of the book is formatted such that every part of the book is protected from the evil eye.

Artist statement: The birth of my first son brought into focus the prevalence of the evil eye when every little ailment was attributed to it. So I decided to find out more and document these techniques that are soon disappearing with the next gen.

© 1999 by Priya Pereira

The intricate grill has a story to tell. It talks of the time the great Mughal Emperor Akbar came to Sheikh Salim Chishti to request his help in prayer for a male heir. He was rewarded by not one, not two, but three fine boys. In gratitude, Akbar built the Sufi Saint’s dargah in Fatehpur Sikri. Today, people tie yellow and red strings at the same grill for any plea that undoubtedly has been answered manifold. This artists’ book is intensely personal to the user. To make it work, first make a wish. Then, tie a string on the grill. Bind one page to another with your own wishes.

Artist statement: I can never forget a childhood visit to this dargah. Here, I made a wish to pass in my Maths exam. And it worked.

© 2003 by Priya Pereira

This Indian folktale is depicted by a silk cloth and hand lettered font that runs across the book. The reader needs to cross the river several times to get the plot of the story. Which incidentally is about sixteen not-so-wise, wise men trying to cross the river.

Legend has it that this folktale was created to convert locals into Christianity in the early 17th century. It is attributed to the Italian Jesuit missionary priest Fr Constantine Joseph Beschi (8 November 1680 – 4 February 1747) from Tamil Nadu also called Veeramamunivar which means father of Tamil prose. He was honoured on his 339th birth anniversary in November 2019.

© 2005 by Priya Pereira

A simple conjunction to the academician. A powerful tool to the politician. The word ‘But’ is an important link that is often used as a weapon and a pacifier. Or as a carrot and a stick – all in the same breath. Here, the word ‘But’ serves to bind the book. To manoeuvre the book, mix and match the pre-but sentences with the post-but sentences and observe the toxic possibilities of the conjunction.

Artist statement: When I first began making books, all I heard was, “The books are great BUT...” The BUT Book was begging to be made.

Also available in a ‘wall’ version (last two images). Please enquire.

© 2005 by Priya Pereira

Set in mosaic, this artists’ book unfolds as a rosary - the prayer beads. All five decades of the rosary are encrusted within 15 pages. Each page holds a prayer, so that even the uninitiated can use it to say the beads.

Artist statement: An attempt to be in the good books of my Catholic mother-in-law brought about this book. And she liked it. Next stop: Vatican.

© 1998 by Priya Pereira

Stone was inspired by Irving Stone’s ‘The Agony and the Ecstasy’ on the life and times of Italian sculptor Michelangelo Buonarroti.

The book takes a circular journey starting and ending with the same page - ‘He was in love with stone.’  While the white pages are passages from the book, the grey pages are sort of a précis of the white pages.

Artist statement: While I saw stone as a cold and callous object, Michelangelo described it as fruit and meat and as light and living. I did change my point of view.

© 2004 by Priya Pereira

This is a book on lovers. Appropriately bound by a set of curly brackets, signifying twosomes. After all, one bracket can’t function without the other. The book holds the story of nine lovers down the ages. You and your better half could be the tenth by writing your story on the last page.

© 1999 by Priya Pereira

The book of F is dotted with ditties that popularize the ‘F’ word without once mentioning the most used and abused word.

© 1999 by Anthony Pereira

An Indian folktale comes alive in this artists’ book made from a packet of lamp wicks. The story is about a village wise man who ends up being unwise while styling his long beard by the side of a lamp.

© 2005 by Priya Pereira

Thirteen alphabets are illustrated in this artists’ book. And a mirror reflects the other thirteen. While the hand drawn images depict Indian street art and life, the structure brings back an old forgotten street toy.

Artist statement: An ode to the colourful and eclectic streets of Mumbai that always inspired and invigorated me.

© 2004 by Priya Pereira

Coarse sandpaper is hand-cut to read a palindrome. And like a mirage, no matter which way you attempt to read the book, you come to the same conclusion.

Now available only in black sandpaper also called ‘water paper’.

© 1997 by Priya Pereira

‘The Seven Stories of Mewar’, each a jewel, encapsulates episodes of significance that occurred during the illustrious history of Mewar over the last 1500 years. While this unconventional necklace book does not attempt to string together copious historical events, there are twists in the tale with fictitious characters thrown in, purely to entertain.

1) Bappa Rawal - Tales on the temple steps

2) Rana Kumbha - A giant amongst men

3) Pannadhai - The sacrifice

4) Padmini - A legacy of honour

5) Maharana Sajjan Singh - A letter

6) 1884 - A cause for celebration

7) Rana Raj Singh - A period of tyranny

This set of seven books was commissioned by Shreeji Arvind Singh Mewar - the 76th Custodian of the Mewar Dynasty for the HRH Group of Hotels in 2006.

In March 2020, we received the approval of Shreeji Arvind Singh Mewar to produce a limited edition of 50 sets.

In each signed and numbered set, while the stories remain the same, there are small improvements and embellishments made to the design - the main one being a new box to house all seven stories together – an architectural construction by itself.

The glass beads of the seven books now follow the traditional gems and order of the Navratnas (nine gems). Based on the Solar System, in the center is the Ruby as the Sun. The Maharanas consider themselves to be the descendants of the Sun. To the right of the Ruby is the Diamond, followed by the Pearl and the Garnet. To the left of the Ruby is the Emerald, Cat’s Eye and Sapphire.

Size: 3.25” X 2.5”

Pages: 22

Materials: Paper, glass bead, cords

Edition size: 50

Editions: 3

Date: 2020

Production: Digital printing, hand assembly

10% of the money received will go towards the Maharana Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) as a token of our gratitude. The activities of the trust vary… from conservation of the central library, to preservation of heritage property, to medical aid to agricultural augmentation, etc., http://www.eternalmewar.in/mmcf/inner_page/maharana-of-mewar-charitable-foundation

"Be open to all around you. Every breeze that blows carries a message." 
- Ahaan

Little Won’s contain little Ahaan’s messages that were given to his parents Anil & Aarti after his passing. They served as guide, balm and manna to nourish & propel them to the path of truth. You can find them all in the original book ‘Where One is not a Number’ (WON).

As Artists’ Books, they take the form of the milkweed seed that get dispersed by the wind. The milkweed Asclepias syriaca is named after the Greek God of healing and serves as food for butterflies & bees. Quite like manna.

© 2017 by Priya Pereira

As the name suggests, this concept is a literal presentation of the ‘book jacket’. Blank books dressed in their own jackets, woven from rich brocades and silk. This book has an unusual way of unwinding and gives way to a surprisingly large number of pages.

© 2002 by Priya Pereira

A visual tribute to the sun from different cultures of the world featured in a signed and numbered edition of 500.

Original and visually vibrant, the Solar Year Calendar - Perpetual ignores every rule there is to a conventional desk calendar. A set of seven multicolored sun discs come attached with a movable needle – this needle, points to a day and date at its two ends. Each sun disc stands independently on a tabletop or on a wall if you choose to frame it. An instruction card explains how to use it forever. 

© 2001 by Priya Pereira