Brian Dettmer: Old books reborn as intricate art

[@vdosvixen]

My husband and I live in a 2 bedroom apartment one of which is used for an office space. We have bookcases in every room except the kitchen and bathroom. As to the various books on electronic media, I asked my eye doctor about the effect long term use of both computers and Kindles, ect. She said that studies done on both types of media proved that people's blink rate drops to almost nil which then causes an increase in eyestrain as well as any current eye problems are also increased. Personally, I enjoy my computers, but I prefer sitting back in a big comfortable chair and cup of tea while enjoying a good book. If anyone was curious, we have 16 6-Shelf bookcases.

[@matthewbarnes7029]

There's not a single line of those books which hasn't already been digitally immortalized for all future generations to access on any and all platforms. What a marvelously novel form of art!

[@josiahscott7789]

Is 'novel form of art' a pun (I sure hope so)?

[@ElCanalDelPadrino]

His work is an incredible piece of art, I'm so impressed.

[@MobiusCoin]

I would definitely like to have one of his pieces. These are great!

[@kouhaisempai4800]

Yeah, I'm not sure I've wanted a piece of art so much before.

[@Beach_Bums]

That’s my uncle

[@madelyn7521]

Holy S__it. The ability of the creative mind - here - I can't understand it. This absolutely blows my mind. You are indeed a treasure.

[@PrincessaAnastasiya]

It's refreshing how he replaces the notion that books have fallen victim to technology with one that reasserts its power as a machine.

[@mhxxd4]

Umm, computers will replace anything. Books are not machines

[@Elround4]

I agree. Further more, it is nice to see this positive view of technology/machines instead of the largely anti-tech stance found in most Post-Modernist thinking.

[@PrincessaAnastasiya]

I'm a digital designer and as pro-tech as you can get! In the part I was referring to from the video, I think his definition of a machine is not competing with computers. He's referring to there being an alternative potential in the physicality of the books to create unique experiences, as evident from his work.

[@Elround4]

Paublo Picklepaper The argument that books are not machines (as in mechanisms with moving parts, etc.) is valid and good (books are instead tools made by machines). Books are, however, a form of technology. Indeed, most people have the misconception that "technology" only means the latest and/or most advanced applications; when in reality "technology" also serves as a large umbrella term for any tool/systems we've created. See: education.nationalgeographic.com/education/media/birth-technology-inside-stone/?ar_a=1

[@HamsterPants522]

Computers offer easier access to reading but I do consider physical books to be preferable simply because they're easier on the eyes.

[@georgewalker3615]

Paper knowledge! Dettmer shows us how our brains are changing when our communication technology shifts. Harold Innis recognized this too! The bias of our preferred form of communication changes the way we understand information and how it's presented to us.

[@WelcomeToMichellesWorld]

I am uncomfortable looking at this. He is using old books. Old books to me need to be treasured and protected. I remember reading all the old encyclopedias we had when I was younger. That experience made me have a great appreciation for all books.

[@fightfanian]

I dont care about art at all , but this is awesome, this transcends the normal art community imo

[@61shirley]

My mind has been blown

[@AmberAshli]

Immaculate!

[@dentist825]

It hurts just to see such a value destructed under the name of art , dismaying...

[@drthunder481]

Wow, I'm not one that's really big on art but these are amazing!

[@sassy6292]

The artist is the avatar of the books. He releases their inner beauty...blank canvases are haunted as well.

[@KRLai]

There's actually an artist on etsy who does this kind of thing - it's expensive to buy but then again it's one of a kind

[@18MundyStJournals]

breathtaking...

[@Karma8Kami]

at 2.17, the girl with the glasses and the red scarf, I could swear that's a girl I knew some years back from Norway, just putting this out here in case she sees it and that happends to be the case. Looking at the age group of the general audience I am wondering if I might be mistaken but my curiosity needs sating ^^

[@Cjoybellclovescake]

As an author, publisher and book designer, I have mixed feelings about this! On one hand, I admire and appreciate this artform; on the other hand, I feel like the books are being destroyed in a way. Perhaps they are being "recycled" rather than destroyed? :) The craftsmanship here is absolutely stunning, I must say! My concern lies in the artist taking paper and ink books and "sculpting" them into something "new" because of the notion that books are all becoming digital nowadays. This is an area for some concern, I believe, because I wouldn't want all the paper and ink books of the world to be hacked away into sculptures. Right now, I read scans from ancient books and I would want future generations to still have access to our books of today. I do hope that the artist is scanning each page of the books that he's using, before hacking them apart! So at least he can create digital copies of the literature!

[@GwynWalker]

I am so truly inspired by your art! My hands just want to touch those books and feel their story of becoming. Thank you for sharing what you love.

[@cheesecakelasagna]

I'm curious to see a sped up video of the process!

[@AveryMilieu]

I can't decide if I am disturbed or inspired. Certainly intrigued and impressed and yes, I'd like a piece from this artist. For my Library, where I foster books of uncertain value but definite age. In fact, I've a few books I'd offer up to the sacrifice, simply because the material within is irrelevant - even as history.

[@GlassLegend40]

all the art works are very detailed indeed

[@113dmg9]

Very inspiring talk. Very talented individual. Very unique end products.

[@theresakoehler1627]

Really, really cool. Exciting? YES. This is a high form of creative art. I just sent this video to my friend at the public library.

[@charliechristianson]

wow. I need to try that

[@RobertJohnson-nz3xm]

I know art is expression and etc etc but preserving knowledge is more important.

[@SuneAdlerMiltersen]

Beautiful. Thought provoking. Great work.

[@SuperXrunner]

Wow, this is amazing. I wish I had your sense of creativity. I in awe of your work. By the way. I don't think books will ever die, it's tangibility is exactly what will make it survive as I'm sure I'm not the only one who can say despite being addicted to technology (more specifically computers), I really love flipping through the pages of a book as I read through it. Besides, If I really want to read something the best idea for me is to not do it on my computer where I'd be tempted by any one of my favorite social media sites.

[@gabb05]

beautiful

[@lovesagt]

WOW !!! How great is that?!? Love it!!

[@DeSwiss]

Extraordinary!

[@Nirmanakaya3]

wow amazing works of art.

[@giselaschall]

Wonderful! Thank you also for sharing. And @BrianDettmer: Great art, great artist!

[@TheLivirus]

Book burning has grown sophisticated.

[@j.thorgard]

I know that sounds smart, but creating art from rubbish is very different to censorship through destruction.

[@TheLivirus]

John Thorgard Chill! Haha, I wasn't being serious.

[@BorysPomianek]

TheLivirus Yet you look like a fool all the same.

[@BorysPomianek]

***** I can tell you who is the fool if you promise not to get mad Edward.

[@carrieannwolfe160]

Very cool! I have the blades I have the paper but I am afraid to make the first cut!

[@j.thorgard]

You also may be interested in Ai Weiwei's urns. Great artist.

[@thrivesurvive]

I find this work very inspiring on many levels. Much thought and effort has gone into each piece, and they are incredibly beautiful.

[@blackplight4u]

My thoughts are how long does it take to construct each peace? And does he add any color other than the varnish?

[@MassDynamic]

i would shred the obsolete books and use the pulp to make a sculpture. this method would use most of the paper.

[@lock-on-taranteso9384]

Awesome...

[@warholnyc]

Love it! Another cool thing is to read the actual content...just as cool as Brian's artworks.

[@HiAdrian]

Really beautiful art!

[@j.thorgard]

I thought his closing statement was very interesting. I'm inspired to try to design the future of books.

[@DuckieThirteen]

What an Ability! You're good, now the true art comes in not letting this reality, ugly your nature Carve on Carver

[@Ankhesanamun]

Wow! amazing!

[@jayfulf]

I think of a book as a collection of printed words and/or images.

[@id104335409]

Now do that with a videotape!

[@Kongolox]

thats pretty cool!

[@lilacosmanthus]

Huh? He puts vinyl around the book and carves down from the top down? How on earth was he able to cut anything in the middle without disturbing the pages in front and behind it, if he didn't move any of the sheets?

[@suhasinisrihari54]

Beautiful artwork! And yes, reference books are in the verge of becoming extinct, but luckily most of the vernacular literature has been still untouched by the e-medium, thus, they still live in books.

[@venkvijay1]

Well Said!! Q

[@Beach_Bums]

That’s my uncle Brian 😃

[@maggyfrog]

people should donate their copies of twilight so he could turn them into actual art.

[@Sixbunnyears]

Que hermoso trabajo! Hice solo dos libros tallados en su interior (y a uno le puse abejas de papel y un pedazo de panal que encontré). Me encantaría ver su obra en directo 😍😍😍 aprendería muchísimo

[@duosayso]

Open-cast residential: dwellings built on ledges once hewn by excavators. Trees and shrubbery to grow again. A gash in the landscape now a town.

[@Run.Ran.Run1]

Still, we should somehow make sure that original copies of as many editions as possiple still exist. I'm a bit in the fence with this idea. Destroying the elements of a book an artist find irrelevant to his/her purpose is a bit disconcerting.

[@TheJaseku]

woooooow, that is awesome!

[@cura973]

Genius.

[@angela14962002]

Amazing!

[@KM00Youtube]

Stunning and most creative!

[@videomachtub]

GENIALE!

[@StrangerYann]

Very interesting, nice vid

[@JohnnyFiveEagles]

the bible says that there are books in Heaven and that Father God even has a library and even authors to pen various works. In fact the Bible said there are books for many things like God keeps a journal of the people who love Him and talk about Him and there are various works that seem to reform things on earth. So...and my wife told me that babies find books fascinating. I wonder why. Is it because they only want to mimic adults who they see reading books? Or it could be that their young souls remember God reading to them and what have you. Just something to think about.

[@hermesngaiza7978]

Blame it on facebook

[@nen8zen]

Even if the book sucked, stole my time, seems to me so unright, to do harm to it.

I understand the art value but does old books need to be "reborn"?

[@keegandettmer6693]

Hi Uncle Brian

[@FlavioCoelhoC]

I want one of those booksQ

[@hellohun7331]

Your mind must work on levels unknown by today's nitwits.

[@pradyction27]

who here repping JC

[@edgarmanuelcambaza6459]

His studio is a book graveyard. He's a danger to any library! I live in a developing country and there are schools and libraries lacking material just like this books he's destroying. Any of this books is far better than his pieces. This art is simply foolish!

[@StarSnowGhost]

People make art out of a lot of valuable resources. There are water, plant, and meat sculptures, all of which could be used to nourish people and yet they are used for art. Artists also make art out of the discarded and forgotten to re-use, and many books become so out-of-date that libraries have to give them away. Why not repurpose a discarded book or resource as art? It's not like everyone in the world is going to do it and bring an end to printed media for art. If anything, a demand for printed media as art would increase the need for books to be made.

[@ananse77]

I live in a developing country too. We don't need outdated encyclopedias. But I do sympathize with your sentiment that destroying books, even outdated ones, seems sacrilegious.

[@BorysPomianek]

ananse77 This notion comes from medieval times when a single person could copy a small amount of books in their lifetime. We should still cherish books but based on their content, not merely as physical objects - I personally enjoy well printed and bound books sometimes more for their form rather than for their content but in that case we are finding an artistic/cultural value in the object itself therefore we cannot generalise that say all books are culturally more valuable than all sculptures for instance. A sculpture can be important for it's content so to speak or can simply be valuable based on scarcity or arbitrary reasons of any kind. Just because something was printed does not mean it is automatically qualified to be culturally valuable either. Books should never be burned or simply thrown out because trees where cut to make them and a lot of work went into printing them however there is no reason why we should not create art out of them - especially from utilitarian materials like encyclopaedias. Our current issue is not lack of books but lack of an environment in which new authors can grow. It was never easier to print a book than currently so if by cutting up a thousand old books it allows even a single author to develop, it's worth it imho. The worries about books being burned are not in relation to loosing everyday books which are readily available but about politically motivated cleansing of cultural wealth of undesirable minorities and individuals. Removing, especially a dead authors influence on the world by simply erasing them from history .... It's not like the guy is bent on sculpting out every copy of To Kill a Mockingbird until there is no record left of it. So yeah, it's just a medieval notion, the sanctity of books. The sanctity of intellectual discourse - now that is something else completely and there is no risk of damaging that by sculpting in old books either. Oddly enough the sanctity of books came from trying to protect religious texts in medieval times, not from scholars trying to protect scholarly works - in most of history it was simply a valuable item, like the house silver and other such concepts of the past.

[@cheesecakelasagna]

And libraries are tree graveyards.

[@Cinqmil]

This is rape. Not much different than burning books. Today we live in a world where form is more important than contenance. Poor, poor world.

[@رفالولمىقناة]

ت

[@kumirei8715]

This man is a terrible speaker

[@excenadist7882]

Kto to ogląda wgle wtf