Shrigley creates 'light-hearted' BAMB tote design for Wellcome

Visual artist David Shrigley has designed a limited edition tote, which celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Wellcome Book Prize, and which the artist says shows "a light-hearted representation of the importance of books", in support of the Books Are My Bag (BAMB) campaign.

Shrigley, known for his absurdist drawing style, is marking the decade anniversary of the £30,000 Wellcome Book Prize which recognises exceptional works of about health, medicine and illness. The striking black and white design for the BAMB campaign tote shows the inside of a head with 'words' travelling through the eye socket and up into the 'brain’ section.

Shrigley said: “I am very happy to be associated with the Wellcome Book Prize and the great work done by Wellcome. My design is a light-hearted representation of the importance of books. I think that this is how books work, though I am not a scientist or a doctor.”

Nominated for the 2013 Turner Prize, Shrigley's works are exhibited internationally as well as outside the gallery sphere, such as his Fourth Plinth Commission for Trafalgar Square, ‘Really Good’, in September 2016. “His distinctive style and wry sense of humour pervade all areas of his work, from his drawings, photography and painting to his sculpture, taxidermy, animation and spoken word projects,” Wellcome Prize organisers noted.

The longlist for this year's Wellcome Book Prize will be announced on 5th February, followed by a shortlist of six titles in March, and a winner in May.

Last year's prize went to Irish journalist Mark O’Connell’s To Be a Machine (Granta Books). 

The totes will be available from the Wellcome Shop in the museum in Euston, free when a customer buy two books from longlist.

Independent Bookshop Week runs from 15th-22nd June.