Su Blackwell makes amazing art from old books. The first example of her work I saw was of the tea party from Alice in Wonderland, an old favourite of mine. I was entranced by the way she made the scene come alive, literally springing from the pages of the story book. There's something so charming and whimsical about her work that it doesn't elicit the usual reaction to the sight of a defaced book. Blackwell's book-cut sculpture has a magical quality to it.
In a statement on Blackwell's site, Kristin Lamm writes, "In a way, Su Blackwell's book-cut sculptures are very similar to receiving a marked-up copy of a book from a friend. Their particular interpretation of the text is privileged for your consideration and you can re-evaluate your response to the work through the lens of their relationship. It's like turning books into memories." Perhaps this is why her work is so appealing. Favourite books come vividly alive in her artwork.
A young artist born in Sheffield (U.K.), Blackwell studied at London's Royal College of Art. She exhibits her work in solo and group shows in the U.K. Check her site for details of upcoming exhibitions.
