One of the most upsetting things for book lovers is to see a book being mutilated. Book vandalism includes but not limited to defacing, slicing and removal of pages. To many, intentional destruction of book is disturbing but what if it is done for the sake for art creation? Let’s take a little tour around the world and see how different artists create artwork with book.
Guy Laramee
Canadian artist Guy Laramee carves artwork out of books. Throughout his last 25 years of artistic practice, he explores the notion of erosion of culture in different projects.
Su Blackwell
British artist Su Blackwell create intricate artwork from books, often within the realm of fairy tales and folklore. Paper is a delicate medium, and Blackwell uses it to reflect on the precariousness of the world we inhabit and the fragility of our life, dreams and ambitions.
Alicia Martin
Be surprised by striking streams of books cascade from the most unexpected places! Spanish artist Alicia Martin uses books in her site-specific installation to reflect upon material and information excess.
Brian Dettmer
American artist Brian Dettmer creates sculpture from preexisting media like old books, maps, tapes. Dattmer seals and carves into the book, page by page. Through displaying certain images and texts, he creates a new work of art that offers alternative interpretation of the book.
Book art is a distinctive art form where literary art is used a medium for visual art. Very often book artists love to trawl through second-hand book shops in search of their inspiration. Through creative processes, a book acquires a new form and evolves into a work of art, and this is the magical moment when literary art meets visual art.
