Artists who turn books into sculpture

[n2doc]

Guy Laramee:







http://honestlywtf.com/art/guy-laramee/
Brian Dettmer:







more
http://honestlywtf.com/art/book-doctor/

[Historic NY]

1. Would make an interesting addition to any library.

[A Simple Game]

2. I find it interesting but don't like the idea.

It's sacrilege to someone that has a hard time throwing away an old magazine.

Can't they find a less valuable medium to use?

[GiveMeFreedom]

3. What about this one?

[awoke_in_2003]

5. I cannot stand that woman one bit...

but would not want to see that book, or any book, destroyed. History, and educated people, will judge that book to be exactly what it is- drivel. It should stand as a testament- something to point to and say "Yes- Americans are stupid enough to buy such drivel". This book, like Mein Kampf, should serve as a warning.

on edit: with a name like "Give Me Freedom" I am sure you understand. Freedom is messy, and isn't always something everyone agrees on.

[A Simple Game]

7. If you must sacrifice something, you should start with the least valuable.

But in this case I doubt you could make anything good from it.

[awoke_in_2003]

4. it bothers me, too...

I do not like the idea of the destruction of books- even that damn Sarah Palin book someone else questioned you about. My favorite scene in "The Day After" was when they were trapped in the library, and burning books to stay warm. One of the librarians supposedly had the Gutenberg Bible, which he was hiding. He wasn't hiding it because he agreed with what it said, but rather what it represented. The Gutenberg bible was the first book that was available to the common man. Prior to that, education and knowledge was available only to the wealthy. The Gutenberg press brought knowledge to the masses.

[kirby]

8. Think about it...

It is paper which can be a renewable resource.

On the other hand, would you prefer granite or copper or bronze, all finite resources?

My initial reaction was the same as you, but then I thought about the media traditionally used versus a paper book.

[A Simple Game]

9. It's not the paper I'm worried about.

If they want to make their art from blank books, fine go at it.

It's the words that matter. Even if it is something I don't care for, someone thought enough about their words to put them on the paper. I have never written anything longer than an essay which usually took me a week each to write, so I realize the effort that most people have to put into writing an entire book.

[ManyShadesOf]

15. it's also about craft

the art of the book, the irreplaceable text, bindings, flyleafs, illustrations, the whole thing. the books shown in the examples are vintage and rare books. they can inspire those who've never seen them to be aware of other times, traditions, trades. the Scottish mystery books are very well done and that level seems worthy of the "sacrilege."


http://thisiscentralstation.com/featured/mysterious-paper-sculptures/

[A Simple Game]

16. Welcome to DU ManyShadesOf. They could easily find another medium to use.

Other than that, they do look very nice though.

[ManyShadesOf]

17. personally

I wouldn't; don't even cut out the illustrations I've bought old books for ...

I appreciate the desire to carve the soft medium. And as in the work mentioned/linked, excellent results make the use seem less disrespectful.

thank you for the welcome

[Generic Other]

10. Mass produced magazines are not valuable

I subscribe to them on purpose just to cut them up!

[A Simple Game]

11. Some are, you never know until years after they are issued.

But it's not about the paper, it's about the words and pictures.

[Generic Other]

12. Well a true hoarder will of course end up with something of value

But will inevitably run out of space to live! I have already come close to reaching that point with all my cut paper. But I do agree some magazines are worth saving. I try to cut only the useless ones. But how to determine which? Who knows. I tend to value older magazines than new.

[A Simple Game]

13. I don't save many magazines, I pass them on. Nor do I care what the next

person does with them. I just can't bring myself to destroy them. Kind of a hypocrite in that sense?

A new magazine will not get old if it isn't valued.

It's not about the paper, it's about the words and or pictures.

[flying rabbit]

6. And then there is this:

A delightful mystery. Well worth the read
http://thisiscentralstation.com/featured/mysterious-paper-sculptures/

[catchnrelease]

14. I loved that one

Especially that they didn't know who was doing it.

[OriginalGeek]

18. I disagree that the books should not be used

It IS about the art. It was said earlier the artists could find another thing to carve up and surely they could but then their art wouldn't be a carved up book. The words and pictures may represent something while in book form but they also represent something after having been converted to sculpture.

I thought about it for a minute and was almost willing to stipulate that at least they were using mass produced books so even after the sculpting, there were many unsculpted copies of the work around for anyone to enjoy as books. But I caught myself and now think that even a very limited or even single copy edition would be fair game for turning into a sculpture as its rarity would only make it that much more precious.


Provided, of course, the sculptor had something interesting to say.

So, for me, Hooray! for books as sculpture! I would never, though, ask you to turn in your books for sculpting.

[violetsurf]

19. Johanna Drucker

also does cool book art

[violetsurf]

20. PS - question

Anyone have any suggestions for books that are both aesthetically experimental and politically radical?