Body Topography 5 by Eryn Lewis

In this series of artist books, the body is not merely a subject, but an active participant in a ritualistic act of mapping. The act of mapping, in this context, is a process of imprinting and recording personal history, experiences, and emotions onto the body. Just as rituals often involve repeated gestures or movements that carry deep symbolic meaning, the body itself becomes a map—each curve, line, and mark reflecting layers of transformation, memory, and identity.

The books depict the body as a vessel that absorbs and channels these elements of the human experience. The environments and landscapes presented suggest a parallel between the body and the land, where aerial views and abstracted natural patterns evoke topographies of the self. The inclusion of unknown organs and corporeal symbols introduces an element of mystery and exploration, implying that the body’s interior, like a map, holds hidden terrain waiting to be discovered. The mystical and miraculous contexts in which these images are placed further enhance the idea that mapping the body is not just a physical or anatomical exercise, but also a spiritual one—revealing deeper truths and connecting the individual to something larger.

The vibrant strata of colors are not only aesthetic choices, but also convey the emotional currents that flow through the work. These dynamic interactions of color reflect the internal energy of the body, suggesting that mapping the body is a ritual of ongoing transformation, emotion, and self-discovery. The series, in its entirety, becomes an exploration of the body as both a physical and metaphysical map, where each image is a step in an ongoing ritual of expression and understanding.