University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
Tom Trusky Exhibition Cases
Special Collections Room, Bower Ashton Library
My continued exploration of the book
Claire Kennedy
15 June - 30 July 2011
During my Fine Art studies I explored the vast and diverse medium of book arts.
The recurring theme within my work was the exploration of the book itself as an object. I looked at the book as a sculptor would a piece of clay, or a painter a blank canvas, as a starting point, a material.
I found inspiration in the qualities of old and discarded books, the ageing paper, tattered covers and inscribed opening pages. Books which had once been read and loved and now left on shelves, in skips and charity shops I chose to take apart and remodel into an artwork, to re-bind and re-illustrate with printmaking methods such as screen-printing, wood cut and letter press. I was intrigued by the idea that the book itself is one of the most recognisable objects in the world, and is fundamentally paper, text, binding and cover. I chose to reorder these elements so that the object can be viewed as something entirely new, my works started as books and finished as pieces of art.
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After finishing my studies I found it increasingly difficult to find time and inspiration to explore bookmaking as I once had. Without the luxury of studio space and full days and weeks at my disposal, I found that, in order to continue with my art, the content of the book, the idea and the message, needed to be the focal point.
During several months spent travelling around New Zealand I took part in an Artist in Residence Programme at Homeprint studio with Internationally renowned bookmakers John and Alison Brebner. At Homeprint I made a limited edition letterpress book - “A Collaboration (of sorts)”. The bold, fearless and intimate quotes printed in the book capture sentences and phrases collected over my months of travel which may otherwise have been lost in a moment. They are now frozen in time and can provoke thoughts in others as they have in me.
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“I Still Feel Lost” is an exploration of the misconception that travelling can answer all of life’s questions, this piece was also made during my residency and is a mixed media piece using letterpress printing and Department of Conservation maps tracking the journey I made around New Zealand.
“Tear Journal” is my most recent piece being exhibited. Despite the somewhat sombre tone of the book, which catalogues every tear I have cried over the course of a month, using litmus paper to collect the tears, the piece was created in order to make something beautiful and productive out of sad thoughts and worries.
This exhibition shows my continued journey into book arts, and particularly marks the transition between creating art during a course of study and creating art for your own purpose and the importance of finding your own inspiration and motivation for your art when the practicalities of life leave little time for such creativity.
www.clairekennedy.co.uk
claireamykennedy@gmail.comback