This piece is an artist book of unique, original prints based on the poem by Edward Lear, 'The Cummerbund'. The concept is inspired by the colonization of India by the British Empire and the effects it had on India's culture, land, and people. I took a very personal approach to this project and I therefore feel very connected to each image.
(Side note: I did not add all of the type pages to the library of images)
Mediums: Drypoint, Embossing, Stitching, Marbling, Collograph, thinners transfer.
I decided to use an Indian red thread of stitching to represent the Indian woman 'Lady Fair', or India itself. This thread is stitched on every page to show her presence throughout the poem. When Britain enters India, a Union Jack red and blue thread begin to appear. The chaos of these stitches also represents the voilence of colonization.
The artists book consists of loose pages of individually printed fabriano paper and fabric. The collection of pages are placed in a box, handmade out of 200 year old wood.
Marbled Fabriano. Inspired by the phrase "Below her home the river rolled, with soft meloobious sound"
Thinners transfer on Fabriano.
Stitching on Cloth. Inspired by the phrase "Above, on talles trees remote, Green Ayahs perched alone"
Oil Collograph on Fabriano. Inspired by the phrase "And all night long the Mussak moan'd Its melancholy tone"
Acetate strips Monoprint on Fabrian. Inspired by the phrase "She sate upon her Dobie, she heard the Nimmak hum"
Drypoint and stitching on Fabriano. Inspired by "When all at once a cry arose - 'The Cummerbund is come!'"
Collograph and stitching on Fabriano.
Stitching and Monoprint on Fabriano. Inspired by the phrase "In vain she fled - with open jaws, the angry monster followed"
Thinners transfer on Fabriano.
