100book: A personal histories international artists' book exhibition highlights the dynamic world of contemporary artists' book practice, with contributing artists from over 16 countries.
The exhibition has just opened at the Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland and runs until 10th May.
I have been lucky enough to have two books chosen for this wonderful exhibition curated by Robyn Foster - "blind spots" and "Yesterday"
"blind spots" is a small book that tries to make some of the the everyday, awful medical procedures into something beautiful. It refers to surgery and the
treatment of melanomas and skin cancers which can occur anywhere on our body
often catching us unaware.
Images are incised, waxed
and scratched and filled with pigment to create layered translucent pages.
Marks, scratches and symbols become codes associated with medical charts and
personal experiences.
It is a 16 page single signature
book of 90gsm waxed pastel paper in a 180gsm Fabriano, Tiziano embossed cover which in turn is wrapped in waxed
Japanese paper . Overall size - 210 mm x 145 mm.
The book is a bit like a surgeon's notebook with a record of sketches and plans of work that has been completed. The waxed paper has a soft feel like skin. For a more detailed look at the images, we'd love to see you at the exhibition but if that's not possible you will find the book on my website in the artist book folder.
My other artists' book in the exhibition is "Yesterday". It is a collection of imaginary postcards housed in an oysterclam box. Since they are small, two-sided cards that need to be handled to view, I have put the images onto a digital slide show for the exhibition as well so that each card can be viewed without touching. A little less personal but not so much since the postcards don't have a special "feel" anyway.
images referring to the passing of time line the inside of the box.
These 20 imaginary cards are based on actual events but the names and addresses have been changed. For the complete set of images please check out my website.
