Deconstructing Books

Donna Watson, Authenticity, mixed media, 24"x24", 2005

I am becoming more and more interested in book art.  I recently discovered this artist who uses books as his part of his mixed media pieces by deconstructing books down to their essence of paper and ink.

Jordi Alacarz lives and works in Barcelona, Spain.  His works have been shown at numerous exhibitions and museums around the world.

Alcaraz combines sculpture, paint, writing and woodworking into glass encased "books".

 The deconstructed books are created in layers:  first the paper object, ink, paint and pencil.  These are then enclosed in plexiglass which Alcaraz melts, distorting the surface image to which he often adds

more paint.  He then creates a wooden frame and a second, smooth plexiglass surface which frames the entire piece.

Here is an example of a surface of plexiglass that has been melted and distorted.

Alcaraz plays special attention to literature and the use of books.  The essence of literature can be found in the written word laid upon paper.  Ink is formed into letters, then into words, and further into text.

He focuses on the material aspects of writing by reducing them to their physical elements for artistic and compositional purposes.  There is a parallel between the work he creates and the literature that these materials represent;  both transforming books, paper and ink into windows into our imagination.

      "... Within the book, or doubled,

Freed, in silvered glass;

Into all other bodies

Yourself should pass.

The glass does not dissolve;

Like walls the mirrors stand;

The printed page gives back

Words by another hand."

                                                           --- Louise Bogan, Man Alone