Book of the World
Rosemarie Chiarlone, USA
| Book of the World;
Rosemarie Chiarlone, artist; Susan Weiner, poet, USA, 2012 The Book of the World edition consists of three different uniquely altered volumes of World Book Encyclopedias. The elegant gold trimmed leather bound books with gold trim pages are intact and undamaged externally. Yet, upon opening, extensively torn and burned pages with gaping internal holes are revealed. Ashes still fall from the books each time they are opened. The text is burnt into the front and back liners. There is different text for each volume: I: Ashes danced afterward Blood flowed Words connect Books endure II: Crimson splashed Fragments of Pages flew In the winds III: Explosion screams Blood and fire Loss Thematically the books address societal issues, especially the disrupted interface between literature and war. The undamaged, hardbound covers denote endurance of knowledge, literature and the human spirit. The poetry references the violence in Iraq and the torn, burnt internal pages reflect the brutality and loss of war. The gold trim symbolises the importance of the book and the theme of overcoming the negativity of war through the power of literature and knowledge. Book of the World: Health & Medical 2012, edition #1 of three; 10” x 7 ½” x 1 ¼” - leather bound book, scorched, cut, and engraved paper, ash, graphite Book of the World: Year Book 1998 2012, edition #2 of three; 10” x 7 ½” x 1 ¼” - leather bound book, scorched, cut, and engraved paper, ash, graphite Book of the World: E 6 2012, edition #3 of three; 10” x 7 ½” x 1 ¼” - leather bound book, scorched, cut, ash, indelible ink |