Report. How the forum, where books smell of grass and gasoline, took place in St. Petersburg

My news is a report from the IV Book Art Collectors' Forum in St. Petersburg (October 4, 2026), where books are presented as a physical, tactile experience—they can be touched, smelled, and lifted with a trowel. Featured highlights include the futurists' almanac «Garden of Judges III,» concrete lettering, books made from wood cross-sections, and knot writing. The main focus is on the works of Elena Mashkarina: prints of real dried herbs inspired by Blok, and a new series on Sviyazhsk featuring the story of «Uncle Toly.» Viktor Lukin, Grigory Katznelson, Katya Efimik, and Ksenia Burlankova, who presented books on sin and schizophrenia, were also mentioned. The event concluded with the tradition of donating works to the library. The report emphasizes that book art cannot be conveyed through words or photographs—it must be felt in the moment.