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State Library of Queensland  >  Find...  >  Virtual exhibitions  >  Artists' books  >  Artists' statements

 

Croajingolong

Croajingolong
by Sandi Rigby

 

Offerings

Offerings
by G.W. Bot

Artists’ books online – redefining the book

Artists’ statements

Where possible we have endeavoured to provide artists’ statements to accompany the artists’ books.

The purpose of the statement is to provide a better understanding of the works by revealing the intentions of the artist.  The statement can be a personal reflection on how and why the artist does their work and the relationship between the artist and their work.

G W Bot
Artist’s statement for the artist’s book Offerings

The most important things in life seem to go mostly unnoticed – all the little gifts and offerings we make to one another or the chance breeze that soothes and renews our feelings for this life as it brushes past our faces – with this in mind I made my artist’s book Offerings.

In Buddhist daoist teaching these offerings take the form of woodcuts on paper which are then burnt as an offering or sacrifice.  I love this metaphor for the potency, yet ephemerality of life which is signified in this gesture.  In the West we cling on to each fragment, message of a life which has come and gone and contained for an instant on paper.

That is the beauty of prints, printmaking paper and the artist’s book – it is a reflection of our imprint, as invisible as it may seem on this earth as we come and go.

The statements we have obtained vary greatly in length and detail.
 

 

Last updated: 30th May 2011

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