The Golden Section by James Allen -SOLD!

This book excavation layers many illustrations of the golden section in shallow relief. Also known as phi, the golden section refers to a line segment divided into two unequal parts so that the ratio of the smaller part to the larger part is equal to the ratio of the larger part to the whole. These proportions are seen throughout nature in man, animal, plants, and even the relationships between the planets in our solar system. Leonardo DaVinci applied the golden ratio to his artistic compositions. We also see it incorporated into the art and architecture of ancient civilizations including the Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese and Mayans. Must see TV! Oregon Art Beat, a weekly arts program on Oregon Public Broadcasting, has a fascinating segment about James Allen and his book excavations. Great video showing the process behind his art, in an in-depth, accessible manner. Watch it here.

ABOUT BOOK EXCAVATIONS

A book excavation is a sculptural work of art made by transforming various types of old books using precise cuts with a scalpel or knife, carving pages one by one until an astonishing new composition reveals itself. This almost surgical focus of dissecting books results in a wholly new object infused with a graphical history that evolves as the artist exposes each layer of the book while cutting around interesting images or text. For most artists working in this remarkable medium, the process is performed without pre-planning or mapping out the contents before cutting into the books pages and/or covers. Finished book excavations often appear as cross sections of the book, carved to create an alternate universe previously hidden between the covers.