Brian dettmer has made his name by taking old books and turning them into something special. Continuing that theme, heres a ted talk from artist brian dettmer. Explore amazing book carvings, 3d book installations, and book towers created by brian dettmer. The life of vertebrates, brian dettmer the life of vertebrates, woah must try this one of those outdated encyclopedias. Atlantabased artist brian dettmer creates marvelous sculptures by performing surgery on books. Century medica detail, hardcover book, acrylic varnish, x x image courtesy of the artist and toomey tourell fine art juxtapoz magazine book sculptures by brian dettmer working with knives, tweezers and surgical tools, atlantabased artist brian dettmer carves one. Originally from chicago and now living and working in atlanta, brian dettmer is known for his detailed and innovative sculptures with books and other forms of antiquated media. A work of surgery and, also, archeology, that releases messages and meanings hidden behind the pages of a book. Last weeks video was a meditation on letterpress printing and the book as a physical object. With xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer makes beautiful, unexpected sculptures that breathe new. Brian dettmer is known for his detailed and innovative sculptures with books and other forms of antiquated media.
The paper is cut in a way that reveals unusal connections between words and images, otherwise, pages apart. These beautiful 3d sculptures of paper take a whole new look at the idea of a popup book. Brian dettmer carved book art, you have to check out this link, amazing. American artist brian dettmer carves amazing sculptures from discarded books max benato wed 2 mar 2011 15.
Brian dettmer lives and works in atlanta, georgia education 1997 b. Fascinating book and paper art by brian dettmer pictures. Find the latest shows, biography, and artworks for sale by brian dettmer. His name is brian dettmer, and he creates wickedly awesome sculptures out of old books i first discovered dettmer on an art blog about a year ago, and i fell in love with his creations right away. Brian dettmer, a new yorkbased artist known as the book surgeon, uses tweezers, knives, scalpels and other surgical tools to dissect and carve old books into intricate and beautiful sculptures. In his atlanta studio, dettmer transforms medical texts, art history tomes, military manuals, and more. Brian dettmers narrative sculptures from old books inhabitat. Recently i took a trip to the fullerton public library to check out a small exhibition of work by an artist that ive been semiobsessed with for a while now. Based in new york, he is one of the most influential artists working with books and paper. Free shipping guarantee question lost your password. Brian dettmer born 1974 is an american contemporary artist.
I think this is pretty amazing timing as the forms books take is evolving. I begin with an existing book and seal its edges, creating an enclosed vessel full. His remarkable book sculptures are meticulously carved into vintage volumes using a variety of tools xacto knives, surgical clamps, pliers, tweezers and are painstakingly cut away one page at a time. Delicate requirements, 2009, altered books destiny far quick fall remaining, 2009, altered ebook home of tongues, 2010, altered guide science within the twentieth century, 2009, altered guide compiled upon a new plan, 2010, altered books the story of. Old books, cassette tapes, records and maps are the artists medium. Brian dettmers work has been exhibited internationally at galleries, museums and private collections. Artist brian dettmer alters books to create sculpture, and he explains. This is just one piece of brians very interesting book art collection.
Making and sharing are her two biggest passions, and shes created hundreds of free online diy tutorials and videos, mostly about technology and. Intricate book art carvings by brian dettmer twistedsifter. Characters, that we care so much for, should come out of the pages to show us their stories. Guy laramees gorgeous landscapes carved into books in two series entitled the great wall and biblios, artist guy laramee used vintage encyclopedias to create his epic sculptures. Artist brian dettmer challenges media that has been cast aside. Artist brian dettmer approaches books with knives, tweezers, and bladesharp ideas about the meanings of media and information. If youre a fan of book art, you probably know the works of brian dettmer.
Americana 2009 altered encyclopedia volumes by brian dettmer 40. Old books reborn as art takes outdated reference materials such as textbooks and encyclopedias, seals them with varnish, then carves away at their pages with an xacto knife. The sculpted books of american artist brian dettmer are beautiful and, at the same time, provocative. I think this is one of the simplest works ive seen by brian dettmer, but thats probably due. The artist seeks to offer the entities a new meaning and function in the world, they are reduced to symbols in a blank paper sheet written by dettmer that will set new ideas and relationships with the apparent materiality. Brian dettmers work is the most delicate of the book sculptures he dissects each tome with surgical tools to reveal hidden surprises within the cover. Dettmer s work has a sort of vintage touch to it because he uses old books maps, encyclopedias, textbooks, manuals, and any other sort of literature that he can turn into an interesting piece of art. A large body of his current work is created by altering vintage books and assembling sets of books into intricate and innovative sculptures. A preface by pioneering artist brian dettmer and an introduction by design critic alyson kuhn round out the collection. The hermann geiger cultural foundation has organized the first solo exhibition in italy of this american artist.
Brian dettmer, an american artist and sculptor, found a spectacular solution. Artist brian dettmer in an exclusive interview with blaze reporter zaheer cassim, answered questions posed by blaze viewers. He gives a new life to old books, record albums, and cassette tapes, transforming them into a. He begins by sealing the books edges, creating an enclosed vessel full of unearthed. Check out his ted talk about what he does and why he does it crafting with old books is controversial in the upcycling world. The university of mississippi museum brian dettmer. Becky stern is a content creator at autodeskinstructables, and part time faculty at new yorks school of visual arts products of design grad program. His work has been exhibited internationally in galleries, museums, and art centers and has gained international acclaim through internet bloggers and traditional media. Pennsylvaniabased artist jodi harveybrown alters old books and gives them a second life by making beautiful sculptures out of their pages. Brian dettmer is one of the leading artists working with the book today. Brian dettmer is a prolific american artist based in atlanta. Brian dettmer is a surgical sculptor with a penchant for the esoteric, obscure and nearobsolete. Book autopsies brian dettmer carves into books revealing the artwork inside, creating complex layered threedimensional sculptures.
Artist uses surgical tools to carve books into stunning. The photograph gallery wagnalls wheel, 2010, altered set of encyclopedias what brian dettmer does with books is thoughtsblowing. Id love to visit an exhibit like this in an art museum some day. In 2014, brian dettmer was the subject of a ten year retrospective at the hermann geiger foundation in cecina, italy. Book art carvings by brian dettmer brian dettmer born naperville, il is a new yorkbased artist known for his detailed and innovative sculptures with books and other forms of antiquated media. Complete home handimans guide by brian dettmer book sculpture. The artist calls himself the book surgeon because he uses knives, tweezers, and surgical tools to carve the art works out of old medical journals, illustration books, dictionaries, map books and encyclopedias. For over ten years, he has carved and reshaped old, used books, revealing new connections by slicing away segments of pages. After carefully selecting the source and subject for his investigations, dettmer determines the architecture of construction and aesthetics of presentation for his. Artist brian dettmer answers your questions youtube.
See more ideas about brian dettmer, book sculpture and book art. His exhibitions abroad is earning him increasing international reputation. Breathing new life into old books with brian dettmer. The bookcarving art of brian dettmer this is incredible. With xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer makes beautiful, unexpected sculptures that breathe new life into old books. The end results are fascinating sculptures that are giving a new vibe to the original book. Brian dettmer turns books into sculptural pieces sfgate. Another brian dettmer creation id like to try something similar where the outside of the book makes a frame, and the whole thing can be a wallhanging. Brian dettmer uses surgical tools to carve one page at a time. At the exhibition hall of the foundation in cecina li, from 12 july to 14 september 2014, the exhibition brian dettmer. Check out the amazing work of artist brian dettmer. Worlds most creative book art images brian dettmer carves parts out of individual pages in books, creating layers that expose the contents all at once a delayed collaboration with authors to.
He is noted for his alteration of preexisting mediasuch as old books, maps, record albums, and cassette tapesto create new, transformed works of visual fine art. He has a show opening april 3 at chicagos packer schopf gallery. The book of the body by brian dettmer brooklyn, new york. Book surgeon uses surgical tools to make incredible book. Dettmers work has a sort of vintage touch to it because he uses old books maps, encyclopedias, textbooks, manuals, and any other sort of literature that he can turn into an interesting. An altered version of an unstated edition of the way things work. Any time that we share old book crafts, we get at least a couple of comments from folks calling shenanigans. Artist brian dettmer repurposes old books and media, using an exacto knife to create gorgeous narrative sculptures. Mystery melange book sculpture, book art, paper art. Artist gives old books a second life by making sculptures. What do you do with an outdated encyclopedia in the information age. Brian dettmer is the author of art made from books 4. Book art carving sculpture by brian dettmer book art carved with surgical tools.
Altered books by brian dettmer art decoration design. The books that we love to read should be made to come to life. Brian dettmer s work has been exhibited internationally at galleries, museums and private collections. Coolest book sculptures by artist brian dettmer photos.
New yorkbased artist brian dettmer creates impressively intricate multilayered sculptures from books. From su blackwells whimsical popup landscapes to the stackedbook sculptures of kylie stillman, each portfolio. Brian dettmer is known for his artwork that involves the alteration of information media. Brian dettmer art actuel libros popup quentin blake buch design altered book art book sculpture paper sculptures art et illustration brian dettmer library of american history detail, 2012 hardcover books, acrylic varnish, x x image courtesy of the artist and toomey tourell fine art.
Brian dettmer is known for his artwork that involves the alteration of. To create new art, brian dettmer trashes old books. He carves books with surgical tools to reveal their contents. Old books carved into intricate narrative sculptures by. Altered, sculpted, carved, transformed heyenga, laura, dettmer, brian, kuhn, alyson on. He gives a new life to old books, record albums, and cassette tapes, transforming them into a breathtaking piece of art. A decade of book sculpture, curated by the art director of. Old books remixed into new art brian dettmer takes old books and transforms them into works of art. Artist brian dettmer is using old books to create beautiful art. Artist turns old books into sculptures art and design. Dettmer knifes through books swiftly from cover to cover to reveal images that explore our relationship to information.
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