Brian Dettmer carves into books revealing the artwork inside, creating complex layered three-dimensional sculptures.
Update: see Brian’s response in the comments.
LINK/IMAGES [@ Hayde Rovirosa Gallery]
LINK/IMAGES [@ Toomey Tourell Gallery]
LINK/IMAGES [@ Aron Packer Gallery]
Update: If you like Brian’s work, please consider digging this post.
lagte achhe mp3seal accursed mp31964 mp3 dostimonkeys mp3 acrticmp3 prone accidentmp3 fillmore actraiserachi mp3 mefaridzemp3 tom accused Map
The Buzz {219 trackbacks/pingbacks}
The Conversation {202 comments}
Un.be.liev.able! What a fantastic idea!
I am speechless. These are just incredibly rich and beautiful. My eyes can’t get enough.
Extraordinary and very beautiful. I’m a avid reader & book lover so I was somewhat torn (!!) at first. I hope no rare or particularly valuable books were ‘destroyed’. But you’ve rendered them into something wonderfully other whilst maintaining the integrity of the original work. Fantastic concept & artfully meticulous execution!
its so beautiful, a mix of sculpture, literature, child´s play and craftmanship.
Is there some tutorial to make them?
A feast for the eyes, though I feel sorry for the old books.
Carries the “cut-up” method to a new level………..
Amazing work. But why, oh why, use the beloved Second Edition of Webster’s? Why not the exceedingly crappy Third? I’d cut it up any time.
Those look awesome. If used correctly, it could be an extremely powerful way to express yourself and your ideas if you found the right pictures in each book. Now I want to learn how to do that…
Still feel kinda sorry for the books. But if nobody was using them, then why not turn them into a different kind of art?
Unbelievably amazing work! This is so far above and beyond any Altered Book work I have ever seen. I plan to study each piece and absorb every detail. I am in absolute awe. Thank you for the opportunity to view your work.
Best-
Ingrid Dijkers
nice work!
Amazing..You are truly gifted
Cory
Doesn’t it seem like this would be an excellent way to advertise/market books to encourage children and young adults to read more? It expresses visually all the excitement inside, making the books seem like boundless little universes.
holy moly…amazing…stunning…wow….
This is very exciting work!
Wow that is amazing.
I had been holding on to a almost complete and beat up and beautiful set of Encyclopedia Britanica found in a rural dump for about 12 years with a vague idea about making paper bricks to build furniture with mashed up print or something… but I threw them out in purging of stuff and old projects that ain’t gonna happen. Now I am kicking myself but more blown away by this beautiful and ingenious work. Bravo!
oh ya the Britanica’s were late late 19th century :P
your work is stupendous. i am in awe.
Brian! These are beautiful and you are a very talented artist. Altered books has taken on a new meaning! Thank you for sharing your work.
I hope you will share with other Altered Book artists on how you did these. We would be honored to have you join our Mixed Media Artist Group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheLatestTrendsinMixedMediaArts/?yguid=319542098
Peace to you my friend!
Lori Roberts
Exceptional and gorgeous. I’m just coveting.
I think these are great. Do you have your own website. id love to follow your work in the future and I cant find anything else about you on this site
ill never look my books with same eyes after this!
Thanks!
cut it out
Wow! Absolutely Stunning!
Unbelievable work, I would love to try this out!
That’s incredible…I can’t imagine the amount of time and dedication it would take to search through all the pages then do all the measuring for each cut.
Absolutely incredible. I can’t imagine how much precision (and how steady of a hand) that would take. Crazy.
MINDBLOWING.
This is that kind of art that really makes you want to make something yourself. It’s the best kind. I love books, but I wasn’t disturbed at all by their transformation here. I really very much liked it.
Brilliant - mesmerizing - creative - astonishing! It is so rare to find something truly new and different in the altered book world, but this definitely qualifies!!
This is such an interesting idea. Good find!
Wow, that is insanely great! How much time does it take per book?
These are really beautiful. It’s one of those ideas that seem so natural, you wonder why no one did it before. Really special work.
Gobsmacked. What was the cylindrical one made from? Do you glue the pages together? Inquiring minds want to know!
I echo all the superlatives above for your artwork. how i would love to see one in person and study it all closer. hope there is a museum tour in the future.
These are just amazing and beautiful. I haven’t seen anything quite like it. Will there ever be a class or tutorial on your process?
Hello Everyone. I am Brian Dettmer, the artist that did this work. First of all, thank you for your interest and great response to my artwork. I see a number of comments/questions are addressed to me as if I put this here and it needs to be understood that I had nothing to do with this website. Also, I appreciate all the questions and interest but I will not have time to answer them because there are way too many blogs about my work now. For more info about my work you can go to the websites these images were originally lifted from:
Packergallery.com
Toomey-Tourell.com
HaydeeRovirosa.com
Thank You!!!!
Brian: Thanks for stopping by and clarifying. I post a lot of artwork here and the casual viewer often assumes they can reach the artist directly through the comments — this time at least it would seem they can!
All: See Brian’s comment above.
WOW!!!
Truly amazing and wonderful work.
r.
So, Nancy won’t let me go into the library any more. Harry
Hey, did you read Italo Calvino’s “If On a Winter’s Night a Traveler?” If not, you should, because there’s a character in there who does exactly this…
Wow! Truly wonderful work!
someone else wrote holy moley so i’m gunna say it…. FAR OUT BRUSSELL SPROUT!!! not altogether useful feedback, but i hope you get the idea!
this work is stunning!
samm
this is a solid proof that you never know what is craziness and what is creativeness.
That’s simply fabulous!
I am suprised that a destruction of books can be called art ?
Great idea, i never see something like that great work! big up kaso
What glory, what style, what a 3 dimensional eye. I am a librarian: a priestess of privacy and conservator of knowledge, ideas and art. To those who tut-tut over the destruction of a book you forget that not all books are relevant through the march of time. I honor your respect and awe of books but I feel that Brian’s work brings more respect and awe by exposing new art, new glory and new ideas in a book that would otherwise be considered obsolete. Carve on!
JESUS CHRIST!!………
What happened to that book I lent you ages ago?
absolutely abhorrent!
hands away from books.
Abhorrent? Oh please! It’s not like he’s carving up first editions or the Guttenberg Bible.
Most altered book artists use books that are destined to end up in landfills—old, beaten up and unloved. Creating art like this is honoring those books, not destroying them.
Barbarians!
I can’t see if you actually have, but if you haven’t PLEASE DON’T DESTROY WEBSTER’S 2ND !!! Your art is beautiful but W2 is also beautiful art, and history, that will never be published again. There is a history to this edition that is not very well known, though it is a historic dictionary and represents the height of the American English language.
There are just a few books, on which, the book community would prefer you not preform your art. I am a rare book librarian who works for an art archive at the Smithsonian. Sculpt on man, though be mindful of into what you carve.
That’s great work!!!
You don’t deceive me, you are on drugs!!!! AWESOME!!
ripoff………….pure fabrication!somebody is gonna get a law suit
yea i noticed too……..strange
Unbelievable! Great work!
awespiring. incredible. i am aptly humbled…
Mr. Dettmer:
Your work is astounding, beautiful, more than creative, and…well, you know.
I am a member of the South Orange (New Jersey) Book Artists’ Roundtable and I’ve sent a link for transmission to all our members.
Astounding, your art just blew me away. I want to probe your mind, ask you about your technique. Do you glue the pages? Do the pieces hang? Do you map out the design and then carve? Do the pieces evolve in a more organic fashion? I wish I could view the works in person and meet the artist. Really fantastic stuff. Wow.
I think the books were better the way they were before.
FYI, On the Toomey Tourell Gallery site (one of the three galleries where these pictures came from) there is a statement from Brian about his art that is worth reading. Near the end he has the following explanation of how he creates his art:
Explanation of Book Dissections-
In this work I begin with an existing book and seal its edges, creating an enclosed vessel full of unearthed potential. I cut into the cover of the book and dissect through it from the front. I work with knives, tweezers and other surgical tools to carve one page at a time, exposing each page while cutting around ideas and images of interest. Nothing inside the books is relocated or implanted, only removed. Images and ideas are revealed to expose a book’s hidden, fragmented memory. The completed pieces expose new relationships of a book’s internal elements exactly where they have been since their original conception.
Stunning.As an artist (and not some book-phile) I am truly amazed.truly beautiful work and in my opinion an incredible way to re-vitalize the existence of the books themselves. You’ve made the existence of these books dynamic and pulled them out of their static shelf lives.
Sanity is the ability to differentiate. It is always amazing to see persons who can’t see there is no scarcity of paper to print more books, unless it is one so rare and out of print. So, confusing someone’s real creativity with bound, printed paper that has no intrinsic value is insane….. please wise up.
Amazing, it’s something different really..
Different certainly - though it’d be a bugger if all the interesting illustrations were on the even numbered pages.
Impresionante, y punto.
I am in awe-speechless! What a wonderful collection of art. There are so many books sent to landfills. I am so happy to see them turned into pieces of art!
Mi más sincera admiración!!!!
This is a great work!! I love it.
These are f*n great! Very creative.
-Rich
47project.com
Books are to me, what cattle are to PETA members. I’m horrified.
Fantastic work, WOW
Veti Vasilion Sept 24
Wow! That is amazing. You do incredible work!
I have some old Chemistry books I’d be willing to donate. ;-)
This is such creative and unbelievable work! I’m amazed!!!!!!!
Beyond belief! I would love to see these books in person.
wow it is amazing, how long would it take to make one.
I have to say I wish I thought about that first. Wow.
But then again, it seams like a lot of work!! What a great form of art AND way to recycle old books. Bravo
Wow! Simply amazing. Fantastic job!
unbelievable….
WOW
I have no doubt that this is as close as we can get to Tralfamadorian reading. Simply gorgeous.
RAD! what someone can make with an exacto knife and some talent!
Great work! Absolutely incredible.
Many thanks to the artist, Brian Dettmer, for giving us some further information about where to tract his artwork as well as learn more about his process and insights. These altered books are the most exciting examples I have seen in ages. Absolutely thrilling. To me, they are an
“Exaltation of Books” in the very best sense. As someone who loves amazing objects made of paper, I feel like I just hit the mother lode. I will share this information with many kindred book and mixed-media artists. Congratulations!
Oh My Goodness - Wonderful work, in concept, design and execution. Brian - I am enjoying looking at your work - Thank you
Karen
As a librarian … I LOVE these! To those of you who lament “these poor books” consider that an option is often the local landfill. At least this artist re-cycles them into something beautiful.
I would love to own one (or more). I wonder what he could do with horror novels.
Bob: Horror novels, that sounds awesome.
meh average. seen better.
Brian has some new work that you can see here: http://www.ktfgallery.com/artists/brian_dettmer/?project_id=181
Books in an enchanting form. Wonderful and strange at the same time. I wonder what people of the future will think of these amazing pieces of imagination. Books can be treasured and not obsolete. I do find it interesting that we live in a society where we do with books as we will were as at one time they were kept from us like some kind of sacred treasure.
Great first try. Now you’re ready to do the complete, unabridged Internet’s web pages.
Utterly remarkable Brian. I have encouraged students to make altered books over the years. I must book mark this so that I can show them just what can be done with the covers. If you ever feel like showing off some work at Soul Food I would make you most welcome.
What an totally unique concept… the sculptural aspect is captivating. I imagine one could look at each piece for hours! Very inspiring.
А нас с детства в Росии учат не разрисовывать и не резать книги!
To Nathan about six posts above who claims to have seen better, could you please provide some names or links to this supposed superior art? I doubt it.
very interesting work. 3 years ago. I organized a project called the Dictionary Project where I sent pages of a NEW CENTURY DICTIONARY to 65 artists to be used and/or inspired by. The pages were 3 hole punched and had great images. The artists were from 5 countries, and 9 states with the age range from 21 to85.
There is a link to some of the project throught http://www.dynamodesign.com.
good luck with your work.!
I hope to do the dictionary project again and have visual artists and writers working on it.
brilliant. very very very cool and original.
Fascinating, the depth of 2d revealed, adding one more dimension to the world of knowledge. I’d like to see some quickie newsprint/magazine sketches, I’m sure the colours would be off the map.
reminds me of paul de guzman’s work — though more organic and sculptural. lovely.
i shall not covet. i shall not covet. i shall not covet.
gives me an anti-tom phillips vibe — removing rather than obscuring, but still editing and re-con-figuring. still lovely.
YES! FINALLY! That is how you should read a book! VERY VERY NICE!
What can I say that hasn’t already been said? Absolutely astounding!
I love books like a fat man loves cake, but I’m certainly not going to be horrified at seeing such amazing works of art created from them.
I would love to see a video documentary of how one of these is made. Descriptions do not do it justice. Perhaps a sped-up montage of the book being carved away? How cool would that be?
Finally! A use for books after the invention of the internet!
;-)
Your work is INCREDIBLE!
WOW! This is great work.
Fantastic pics!!! This is a great work!!! :D
beautiful!!!
I am struck by the fact that I wasn’t offended at all about this art, although being an avid bibliophile. The thing is however that I find it clear that for Dettmer these books aren’t just “boring old stuff” to be turned into “fancy new art”, but he treats them with appropriate affection — old books are _always_ beautiful, but he hasn’t destroyed any of that beauty, but rather lifted up their beauty for even more people to see. Very beautiful, very beautiful.
Then again, I’m sure his art will inspire people to dig up books they never opened from their family vault and start desecrating them in all possible “original” ways, but that’s how it’s always been with art — that’s where the responsibility of the public comes in, to recognise and ignore copycats (the only thing worse than a mediocre artist would be a mediocre artist destroying books in the process!).
As a pathologist, I have done many human autopsies( need to specify) so I find your concept to be wonderful. Have you tried an anatomy book?
AMAZING - MARAVILHOSO - FANTÁSTIC
SHOOOOOOOWWWWW
These are fantastic. What a great concept!
Wow wow wow!!!
After seeing the a picture of The Tower of Babel, I’d love to commission (but could not afford it!) making a very large volume into a tower.
Something new and different - at least for me. I think it would be a good marketing ploy for new books as well. Just carve up one copy and use an image of it for the jacket cover.
Fascinating.
Very clever and creative use of what seems like books that often end up in garbage dumps! Both praising the book itself and works of arts themselves! Thanks!
Totally Awesome! You have taken ‘trash’ and transformed it into intricate works of art, don’t listen to those who are jealous of your talent.
Amazing stuff.
Incredilbe. This is completely refreshing, unique, and a great use of human imagination and ingenuity.
As a librarian I have to say this is one of the most beautiful and unique things I’ve ever seen anyone do with books. Truly stunning work!
If you’ve ever seen Alfred Hitchock’s Vertigo you’ll remember the scene where they look at the cross-section of a huge redwood pine. Marked on its concentric rings are the dates of famous events, like the American Civil War, etc, to show how old the tree is. Brian’s work is like taking that tree cross-section and turning it right way up again. In fact, a tree (or even just its stump) done this way, would make for a perfect museum piece. Educational and beautiful. Well done, Mr Dettmer!
Muy bueno!! me encantó
it is so…AMAZING!!
How long time did you make it??
you should totally venue somewhere; if you have, i apologize! If you ever come to Miami let me know!!
It’s so crazy!!!!!!
A rare accomplishment — I am rendered speechless by this book art.
Obviously, you won’t reveal it but is there a certain method you use when carving?
I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s really fascinating and innovative. Kudos!
Show de bola suas esculturas amigo. Muito bem feitas, chegam a parecer cenas reais algumas delas.
Parabéns mesmo!!
Um abraço!
Mitchell Brazil.
inspiring and beautiful. you must have incredible patience.
i am sure i am speaking for all, this deffnetly is one of the most unique work ever seen. the dedication-amazing. i love books and it was painfull to see them torn away, but if they can be of other use than this is deffnetly the way to go-incredibl achievement. it unfolds all the treasures of a book-very interesting. well done
TOO AWESOME!!!
fascinating work. congratulations.
I want more autopsies
cars autopsies
building autopsies
city autopsies
…
JN: keep going!
what a great idea. thanks
That is one of the most amazing art forms that I have seen in a while: innovative, distinct, interpretive…Gorgeous
These are amazing. I agree with the poster who said that the art exemplifies the purpose of books, to bring us new ideas and take us on new journeys. On a related note, there is also a woman who makes purses from book covers (sorry, I don’t know the wesite). I am glad that people have found ways to promote literacy in such unique ways.
fantastic! I would love to see these in person- the detail is amazing!
These are amazing
I can’t believe how cool this is. I could look at this for days.
I wonder how long it takes to finish one piece!
VERY vERY cool…
i love books…love reading…first time i acually like(love) them being cut into…
very very very cool…must req sum serious planning…
good luck
he’s like a termite. a very creative termite.
muy buena idea!
wonderfull.brillante.brilhante!!!!!!!!
Absolute Beauty
I can’t believe this! Your work is amazing!
Hi, My names Emmy nad my partners name is matt We are 8th grade students in Mrs. Berg 8th grade art class. WE are studing altered books and lokking at new designs because we are going ot start our own books soon, We are wondering how you so the carving into your books, through the covers and wihtin the book. It is so awesome, We love them and we are hoping to incorrporate it into Matt and my book. Our book is fairly large which is why we Love your idea. Please respond because it would help much.
Thanks,
Emmy and Matt
Emmy and Matt: I don’t know if the artist, Brian, is checking this website anymore. Good luck with your project!
This is a very intersting carving art technique. The time and patience and the ability to make it three dimensional is the work of a genius. The choice of books and the way they are carved says so much about the artist and shows respect as a unique transformation. It’s as if each piece is an interpretation of what the artist orginally saw going through each page at a time. Very different. Timeless in thought. Excellent work.
You’ve ruined all these books…
Decorative waste.