| Title | The Spice Series |
| Subtitle | Concoctions 5 |
| Artist / Creator | Islam Aly |
| Place of Publication | Iowa City, IA |
| Publication Date | 2013 |
| Process / Technique | Different spices embedded in two layers of handmade flax paper |
| Structure / Binding | Three-hole pamphlet stitch sewn on accordion |
| Medium / Materials | Linen thread, wooden boards |
| Paper Stock | Cave paper, spices embeded in handmade flax |
| Number of Pages | 20 folios |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 3.7 x 3.7 x 3 inches. Extends out to 21 inches |
| Edition Size | Unique |
| Signed & Numbered | Signed by the artist |
The Spice Series: Concoctions 5 by Islam Aly -SOLD!
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In my spice series, I wanted to document the spices used at home in Egypt. In addition, I wanted to show how these spices appeal to the five senses in a book that have a unique touch and smell. I use different spices and herbs such as: black pepper, clover, cardamom, coriander, anise, and hibiscus. Each spice reminds me of a memory: my mother's cooking, walking through the old streets of Cairo, drinking herbal tea in cold winters and sharing food with family and friends. I document these experiences and give the audience the opportunity to reflect on their own experiences when viewers see, touch, and smell the pages of the book.
Artist Bio
Islam Aly received a BA and an MA in Art Education from Helwan University, Egypt. He is currently a doctoral candidate in the College of Education's Art Education program at the University of Iowa. In August 2013 he finished the MFA program at the University of Iowa Center for the Book. His books explore the possibilities of historical bindings in contemporary book art practice. They have appeared in international exhibitions in the United States and abroad, and in private and public collections including the NewYork Public Library, the W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library at the University of Alabama, the National Library of Chile, the University of Iowa Special Collections, and Bibliotheca Alexandrina.