Sunday, February 27, 2011

The journey begins and ends with home...

I started this white on white concertina book a few months ago. It started out as a 'stepped' book with different pages cut to different heights. I stitched my handwritten words onto it, I punched holes, drew ladders and made marks.

I didn't like it. I didn't like the clunkiness of the steps - too harsh or too obvious for this delicate piece. So I chopped it off! About  6 weeks ago I cut it right back to the shortest 'step' and made it much more like a stubby square book.

Much nicer! It felt more intimate and more interesting.

I then decided to make it another 'book in a box'. Partly because my latest one had been snaffled for the Southern Cross University's exhibition and therefore wouldn't be available for our own exhibition.

I like it more now. It snuggles in its box and the box is a combination of white, cream and tarlatan; to give it a really book-box feel. As a piece it reminds me of how the story/journey all begins and ends with home...

©Fiona Dempster 2011 TJBAEWH (box)
©Fiona Dempster 2011 TJBAEWH
©Fiona Dempster 2011 TJBAEWH (detail)
©Fiona Dempster 2011 TJBAEWH (detail)
©Fiona Dempster 2011 TJBAEWH - half opened

9 comments:

  1. This is lovely. Books and boxes are two of my favourite things. Both demand to be opened and explored.

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  2. Fiona - this is a great piece, I love the white on white and that it needed to go through different incarnations until it felt right! The box is gorgeous - I think I love it as much as its contents! - for me, boxes always make books feel more precious, like treasures requiring safeguarding either because of their cost, rarity or fragility. Even if you know what's inside, there is always a little thrill, like opening a gift, when you reveal the contents. Good work!

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  3. Carrie - thanks for visiting and commenting. I agree, boxes and books are perfect companions and both deserve to be opened and explored!

    G/TT - In the end the box worked out for the best (an initial disaster, but we recovered!). There is some magical association or wonder about opening a box to discover the delights within. Glad you like the white on white approach as well!

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  4. a le guin book called always coming home, that title has stayed with me the 30 years since i read it.

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  5. lovely, delicate work - can't wait to see them all together on 12th xoxoxox

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  6. What a lovely combination - the book and the box. I liked the book in its previous life but this has turned out to be an elegant reworking. All the best in these busy days before your exhibition.

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  7. V always coming home is an interesting thought....
    N - thanks we look forward to you being at the opening too!
    Carol - thanks for your thoughts it is all a bit mad at the moment. Glad that the reworking works!

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  8. Love all the white on white, the way light changes the work and bounces about and really like that you have made a box for the book where it can rest in the dark. i find the ounched holes in the paper really powerful, another way for the light to move. Thanks Fiona, great piece.

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  9. Thanks Liz - I love white on white and how it lets shadows and light play; and their quietness too I think.

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I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.