Check out his ted talk about what he does and why he does it crafting with old books is controversial in the upcycling world. Link to art of parts reading videos on the meaning of assemblage and ideas behind this way of working. Continuing that theme, heres a ted talk from artist brian dettmer, who painstakingly carves old books into amazing sculptures. New yorkbased artist brian dettmer carves intricate sculptures from outdated materials like encyclopedias, textbooks, maps and cassette tapes. The book itself furthers the sense of liberation and playfulness by exposing its own spine. Brian dettmer born 1974 is an american contemporary artist. Old books reborn as intricate art very interestingthank you for sharing. Artist brian dettmer digs into a good book literally, with a knife to create beautifully intricate forms that reflect how we see old information in a modern world. Our next giant leap tedglobal 2005 stephen hawkings zero g flight ted2008 abundance is our future ted2012 jared diamond.
Brian dettmer exposes and celebrates the graphics contained in books through painstakingly precise, layerbylayer excavation. See more ideas about art, brian dettmer and book sculpture. Mark strassmann reports on dettmer s vision for a vanishing form of art. Old books reborn as art tedyouth 2014 david deutsch. This presentation convinces me that text books in a classroom, especially in the upper grades, will go away. To create new art, brian dettmer trashes old books.
Old books reborn as art what do you do with an outdated encyclopedia. Brian dettmer takes discarded books, sculpting and carving them into remixes, and explains how he does it in a newly shared ted talk. Artist cuts, carves and paints old books into new art. Books art old books design set brian dettmer art actuel altered book art handmade books book making art plastique book report. Altered book artist brian dettmer old books reborn as intricate art. Artist brian dettmer is using old books to create beautiful art. Old books remixed into new art brian dettmer takes old books and transforms them into works of art. Brian dettmer has made his name by taking old books and turning them into something. Xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer makes beautiful, unexpected sculptures that breathe new life into old books.
Atlanta artist brian dettmer creates memorable works of art by slicing, whittling and tearing into books. New art carved from old books in webster two point oh dettmer connects two dictionaries to expose a new architecture to the books, creating random poetry. May 26, 2015 this ted talk that is presented by brian dettmer is called old books reborn as art. By working with books, i want people to really look at the physicality, really look at the architecture and the structure of the information that we have had experiences with in the past and really question whats happening now that. Dettmer is a sculptor and visual artist who uses as his primary material books. Dettmer explains his process and journey as a reader and artist, and why he. First given at tedyouth in november 2014 but posted to the educational forums main website on february 6, old books reborn as intricate art sees dettmer explore his own approach to an unusual form of literary art. Altered books by brian dettmer art decoration design. Part artist and part surgeon, dettmer uses knives, blades, tweezers, pliers, and custommixed adhesive to painstakingly carve threedimensional sculptures. Feb 09, 2015 brian dettmer takes discarded books, sculpting and carving them into remixes, and explains how he does it in a newly shared ted talk. He wants to make the books have another purpose because he thinks of books as living creatures. Curated by michelle tillou at the springbreak art show ny.
Old books reborn as intricate art this six minute video by book sculptor brian dettmer is amazing, kind of disturbing, and very thoughtprovoking. In his talk brian shares to us his art he creates out of books, pretty self explanatory in the title. Carving old books into works of art studio 360 wnyc. Thanks to our friends at mental floss for linking us to artist brian dettmers very cool book art. 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. Brian dettmer takes discarded books, sculpting and carving them into remixes, and explains how he does it in a newly shared ted talk first given at tedyouth in november 2014 but posted to the educational forums main website on february 6, old books reborn as intricate art sees dettmer explore his own approach to an unusual form of literary art. He has to learn how to manipulate the book and hold it in that position. Artist takes old books and gives them new life as intricate. You can hear brian talk about his work in the ted talk brian dettmer. Why you should listen new yorkbased artist brian dettmer carves intricate sculptures from outdated materials like encyclopedias, textbooks, maps and cassette tapes. In his atlanta studio, dettmer transforms medical texts, art history tomes, military manuals, and more. Brian dettmer carves intricate sculptures out of old reference books. July 7 june 7 may 19 april 14 february 11 january 24 2015 227.
Brian dettmer is an artist and his preferred form of art is cutting up books. The university of mississippi museum brian dettmer. Artist brian dettmer approaches books with knives, tweezers, and bladesharp ideas about the meanings of media and information. It should be something personal, an idea that you can do a lot this and have lots of words, symbols, objects, images that you can work with. Last weeks video was a meditation on letterpress printing and the book as a physical object. This ted talk that is presented by brian dettmer is called old books reborn as art.
Mark strassmann reports on dettmers vision for a vanishing form of art. For over ten years, he has carved and reshaped old, used books, revealing new connections by slicing away segments of pages. What do you do with an outdated encyclopedia in the information age. April 25 january 25 2014 247 december 36 november 44 october 38 july 12 june 17 may 17 april 19. With xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer makes beautiful, unexpected sculptures that. Brian dettmer is an artist who cuts books and turns them into art. Sep 29, 2009 in addition to melting old cassette tapes, atlanta based artist brian dettmer also has a penchant for dissecting old books to make one of a kind creations. Book art by brian dettmer using knives, tweezers and surgical tools, brian dettmer carves one page at a time. Book art that will melt your brain book sculpture, art.
Apr 24, 2020 old books reborn as art by brian dettmer. Chemical scum that dream of distant quasars tedglobal 2005 a new way to explain explanation tedglobal 2009 peter diamandis. This talk takes a look at how brian dettmer creates sculptures out of old books. With xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer makes beautiful, unexpected sculptures that breathe new life into old books. Find the latest shows, biography, and artworks for sale by brian dettmer. To create new art, sculptor brian dettmer cuts up old books. With xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer.
Any time that we share old book crafts, we get at least a couple of comments from folks calling shenanigans. 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. May 15, 2011 atlanta artist brian dettmer creates memorable works of art by slicing, whittling and tearing into books. Curated by michelle tillou at the springbreak art show ny this years theme is in excess. Art from unconventional materials ted playlist we see. New yorkbased artist brian dettmer cuts into old books with xacto knives and turns them into remixed works of art. Old books reborn as intricate art reflection 5252015. Old books reborn as intricate art what do you do with an outdated encyclopedia in the information age. Brian dettmer is an american artist who takes old books and turns them into beautiful works of art by cutting away selected parts to reveal layered images and text science in the twentieth century. Mar 26, 2012 artist brian dettmer approaches books with knives, tweezers, and bladesharp ideas about the meanings of media and information. The photograph gallery wagnalls wheel, 2010, altered set of encyclopedias what brian dettmer does with books is thoughtsblowing.
First given at tedyouth in november 2014 but posted to the educational forums main website on february 6, old books reborn as intricate art. Artist makes highpriced sculptures from old books youtube. Why you should listen new yorkbased artist brian dettmer carves intricate sculptures from outdated materials like. I wanted to create a stack of books so that somebody could come into the gallery and think theyre just looking at a regular stack of books, but then as they got closer they would see this rough hole carved into it, and wonder what was happening, wonder why, and think about the. Feb, 2015 to create new art, brian dettmer trashes old books. Dettmer knifes through books swiftly from cover to cover to reveal images that explore our relationship to information. Brian dettmer book sculptures the brooklyn refinery diy.
Brian dettmer old books reborn as art what do you do with an outdated encyclopedia in the information age. Jan 21, 2016 with xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer makes beautiful, unexpected sculptures that breathe new life into old books. 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. Accordion books with a theme choose a theme or an idea that youre passionate about. Artist brian dettmer digs into a good book literally, with a knife to create beautifully intricate forms that reflect how. Old books reborn as intricate art this six minute video by book sculptor brian dettmer is amazing, kind of disturbing, and. Let me start by saying that if you are a faint of heart bookish worm and dont like seeing books cut up and reshaped, this might not be for you. It looks like theres an issue with javascript in your browser.