‘My back … part of my body yet hidden from myself’
I made the first version of this unique artist’s book in 1994, when I had just begun to create images of my own body. It takes the form of an artist’s portfolio made entirely of translucent materials, with an x-ray mounted on the front. Inside are unbound pages of interleaved text and drawings, which together unfold a narrative of visualization: a look into the body, from the surface of the skin into the realm of inner space.
Looking at the book again in 2008, my brief, distilled narrative text struck me as still the best way to convey the essential story. I updated the book with new drawings (from the Visible Skeleton series) that reflected all I had learned and the more nuanced understanding I had gained over the subsequent years. Now (in 2010) I’m in the process of updating the book once again: this time to create my own ‘X-ray drawing’ for the cover.
The new, handmade artist’s book will soon be available in a small limited edition; go to Artwork Details to learn more.