How are they made?

​​I look at a book and see its content.
​ 
By this I mean not its literal or textual content, rather its potential to make it to something beautiful. 
​​The second-hand books I use do not have any special features like exquisite paper or beautiful illustrations. Most people would actually classify them as trash. 
​The initial working phase is similar to traditional sculpting , i.e. carving out a shape. The second phase is working on the selected material. In the final phase details are added.
Although pages are removed and cut down into a primary foundational shape, the actual binding stays untouched​.
This is essential, as I work page for page from out of the book spine.

  • I love the challenge to exclusively use the material the book that I am working on provides.
  • I only use bookbinding glue, scissors and paper knives.
  • For colour I sometimes use illustrated pages or parts of the book cover. I also experimented using fire which provides a colour spectrum ranging from paper white, to yellow, to brown, to black.
  • Finally, I do not use any paper mache. I have to find other solutions to deal with the rigidity of the paper and consequently this involves being more creative.

To overcome boundaries and limitations is what I enjoy most in my work.
​

Get In Touch.
If you would like more information, please click on the button below and I will try and get back to you as soon as I can.
Copyright © 2021-2022 Dorothea Mannes