Shannon West
The Cloistered Book balances experimentation, precision, and the unknown. Books in the series have been carefully read and considered, and selected based on their binding, titles, and book casings. Each selected book is placed into a measurement of water and Borax in a large pan. The water is then boiled at differing temperatures and durations, and, as the solution cools, the submerged books slowly begin to grow crystals. What emerges at the end of this process is the transformation of book into sculpture, a preservation of the reactions instigated by my process, and a rebirth through the embrace of uncertainty.
Works: Flap Dragon, In the Cavern, Intuition, Mesenet, Mother Hubbard, Mother of All Souls, Renenutet, Right Angle, Velvet Goldmine