The tactility, the feeling of holding the whole world in your hand, learning and knowledge; I love books. The Photobooks/Artist Books I am currently engaged with/ looking at/thinking about are:

Fractal Scars, Salt Water and Tears, Esther Teichmann

Moises, Mariela Sancari

Wild Pigeon, Carolyn Drake

Sequester, Awoiska van der Molen

Imperial Courts, Dana Lixenberg

Esther Teichmann’s, Fractal Scars, Salt Water and Tears, published by Selfpublishbehappy SPBH Book Club Volume V, is a book I sit with often.  Esther Teichmann (b. 1980) is a German–American artist based in London. Printed in 2014, the artist book is designed by Antonio de Luca and comes with an original cyanotype cover.

At first glance, one is immediately impressed by the printing, the paper, and the editing of this rather small book. But even after we reflect upon the seductive tactility and well considered design elements of the book itself, we are left with a haunting impression. We know we have entered a fantasy world, albeit one that is rooted in history.  Teichmann’s images are not only luscious, sensual, beautiful, but they also raise questions and evoke emotions that seem to repeatedly materialize from image to image. There is a constant push and pull, one that lingers and then re-emerges. What is fascinating for me is that she repeats images in different projects as if she still hasn’t answered the question, or perhaps because yet another concern has come to light.  This is something I grapple with my own practice, but somehow Esther does it seamlessly, as if it just couldn’t be another way; the past persistently summoned into the present.

Esther has a show up currently at Transformer Station in Cleveland, Ohio, entitled Heavy The Sea.  More info here.

She created a zine for the exhibition which you can download here.  (Careful, large pdf! Tip: Right-click + Save as)