Brian Dettmer transforms old books into relief sculpture, revealing his finished piece as he carves and peels away the pages one at a time. Dettmer’s work is detailed and intricate allowing the book to influence his direction.
The age of information in physical form is waning. As intangible routes thrive with quicker fluidity, material and history are being lost, slipping and eroding into the ether. Newer media swiftly flips forms, unrestricted by the weight of material and the responsibility of history. In the tangible world we are left with a frozen material but in the intangible world we may be left with nothing. History is lost as formats change from physical stability to digital distress.
In this work 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. My work is a collaboration with the existing material and its past creators and the completed pieces expose new relationships of the book’s internal elements exactly where they have been since their original conception.
– Brian Dettmer
Brian Dettmer has a show coming up at the Kinz + Tillou on May 19, 2011 – June 11, 2011 and you can see much more of his work at briandettmer.com.
I love that these sculptures make the pages come alive! Beautiful.
I love your work.
very smart