[Today’s featured artwork for Day 109 of the 365 Days Project is by Brian Dettmer.]
The inevitable decline of the hardcover book has inspired a sculptural artist to find ways to repurpose them. Brian Dettmer is well-known for his innovative sculptures created from old books, often incorporating entire sets of encyclopedias into his art. It is a thought-provoking body of work – a colorful tribute to a bygone era when salesmen used to go door-to-door, selling the Encyclopedia Britanica (which is now, by the way, online).
Here is how Dettmer describes the creative process: “I begin with an existing book and seal its edges, creating an enclosed vessel full of unearthed potential. I cut into the surface of the book and dissect through it from the front. I work with knives, tweezers and surgical tools to carve one page at a time, exposing each layer while cutting around ideas and images of interest. Nothing inside the books is relocated or implanted, only removed. Images and ideas are revealed to expose alternate histories and memories.”
I can almost sense how Dettmer must feel as he alters another artist’s work – the writer who spent months, maybe years, filling the pages with words that these books will no longer share with their public. Dettmer honors these authors by keeping the book’s contents in order, and giving their old tomes a second life.
“My work is a collaboration with the existing material and its past creators,” said the artist, “and the completed pieces expose new relationships of the book’s internal elements exactly where they have been since their original conception.”
If this is the future of books, I hope they all end up in Brian Dettmer’s studio.
“The Household Physicians” by ©Brian Dettmer – Altered Books – Image Courtesy of the Artist and Kinz + Tillou Fine Art
“Mound 2” by Brian Dettmer – Altered Book – Image Courtesy of the Artist and Kinz + Tillou Fine Art
Brian Dettmer’s artwork may be viewed on his website at: Brian Dettmer
Artist credits for the images included in this article:
Brian Dettmer is originally from Chicago, Illinois and currently resides in Georgia.
All images are used with permission by the artist, and are subject to copyright laws.
The 365 Days Project
In 2012, Serena Kovalosky committed to writing an article a day for 365 days as an exploration into the lives of artists and the value of creative thinking in our society.
Experience the full evolution of the project! Click below to read the entire collection of articles.
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