#1 Perspectives. Junction Series.
Cairo, Egypt: Islam Aly, 2024. Hardcover. Number 4 of 30 variant copies - each with slighly different covers and illustrations. Book 1 " in the 'Junctions Series', which draws inspiration from the intricate beauty of Coptic book covers, known for their ornate designs and rich symbolism. Each book in this series serves as a connection between the past and present, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics. In this first book 'Perspective', readers are invited to explore a visual journey through the cover pattern developing inside the book. Inspired by the intricacies of Coptic book covers, 'Perspectives' is weaving together elements of art, culture, and history to create a unique visual experience" (Islam Aly).
Coptic bound in hand-carved white camel bone with intricately carved spaces and cuts that reveal the patterns inside the book. Illustrated with laser-cut designs on blue and cream handmade paper, with each section designed to resemble the patterns, appearance, and texture of the old Coptic covers. Leather strap wraps around book to hold closed. Unpaginated. Size: 3 x 3 x 1 inches.
Islam Aly is an Egyptian-born book artist and teacher. His books explore the possibilities of historical bindings in contemporary book art practices They have appeared in international exhibitions in the United States and abroad, and in private and public collections including the New York Public Library, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Library of Chile, Yale University, and Bibliotheca Alexandrina. In an artist's statement he writes: "When I make a historical book structure, I go through a learning process. I learn the history as well as the different physical aspects of the binding such as how a book form is constructed in a specific sequence. I learn about the use of different materials such as paper, wood, leather and dyes. I learn to make choices in selecting and replacing traditional materials that I don’t have access to. I use these different experiences to enhance my work in making artists’ books and to use historical and cultural references from these structures in the actual content. In essence, I wish to explore new ways to use the rich structures of historical books in contemporary artists’ book practice and incorporate contemporary content into strictly historical structures." ARTB/061324. Fine.
Item #37305
Price: $700.00