Elūl is a deeply personal artist’s book by photographer Gabrielle Motola. It traces the arc of a passionate, turbulent relationship and the emotional landscape beneath it. More than a passage through space and time, it is a journey through collapse, healing, and transformation.
Working closely with Gabrielle, I crafted a design that mirrors and elevates the narrative. The visual sequencing of images follows not a chronological order, but the emotional rhythms of connection and loss. The book moves fluidly—from intimacy to distance, from entanglement to self-discovery.
The wrap-around cover features copper foil on a vibrant turquoise board, echoing recurring hues in Motola’s photography, and expands to reveal most of the text, giving the images space to breathe—and inviting viewers to explore their own emotional projections. The final touch is a distinctive singer-sewn hand binding with contrasting maroon thread, adding a tactile element to the book’s expressive form.
Client: Gabrielle Motola Photographer and Writer: Gabrielle Motola Copy Editing: Eleanor O’Kane Printer: Taylor Brothers
