Between the Lines

Being brought up not to desecrate books, I would not normally be responsive to this technique, but there is something intriguing about Brian Dettmer’s book autopsies of carved books revealing the artwork inside, creating complex layered three-dimensional sculptures. Through the cut-open cover of a book the viewer sees layers of selected text and illustration carved from the pages of the book. His pieces seek to bridge the gap between the medium's form and its message. Dettmer manages to use the contrasting layers of image and text to explore the conveyance of information, as well as being able to get the viewer to examine what that can mean.