Edinburgh's Mysterious Book Sculptures
Ohhh, who would have guessed there's an intriguing mystery taking place in the world of paper art?! While perusing the blog Blue Velvet Chair, I noticed a comment about an artist who has been surreptitiously depositing intricate book sculptures in literary locations around the capital city of Scotland since March.
The Scottish Poetry Library was the first recipient - a thoughtfully constructed paper tree was left on a table, addressed to the library's Twitter name. Alongside the tree were two golden egg halves, covered and filled with phrases from the poem "A Trace of Wings" by Edwin Morgan, along with a neatly written tag:
"It started with your name @byleaveswelive and became a tree.… ... We know that a library is so much more than a building full of books… a book is so much more than pages full of words.… This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas….. a gesture (poetic maybe?)"
The Scottish Poetry Library was the first recipient - a thoughtfully constructed paper tree was left on a table, addressed to the library's Twitter name. Alongside the tree were two golden egg halves, covered and filled with phrases from the poem "A Trace of Wings" by Edwin Morgan, along with a neatly written tag:
"It started with your name @byleaveswelive and became a tree.… ... We know that a library is so much more than a building full of books… a book is so much more than pages full of words.… This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas….. a gesture (poetic maybe?)"
The elusive creator remained anonymous despite a good bit of news coverage.
Several months later, another discovery... this time The National Library of Scotland received a gramophone and coffin sculpture constructed from the book Exit Music by Ian Rankin, UK's bestselling crime author. Again, a Twitter address on a handwritten tag that read, "For @natlibscot - A gift in support of libraries, books, words, ideas... (& against their exit)"
Several months later, another discovery... this time The National Library of Scotland received a gramophone and coffin sculpture constructed from the book Exit Music by Ian Rankin, UK's bestselling crime author. Again, a Twitter address on a handwritten tag that read, "For @natlibscot - A gift in support of libraries, books, words, ideas... (& against their exit)"
In June a sculpture was left at Filmhouse, an indie film cinema. It's a theater scene with the audience seated on a stack of books, viewing men on horses emerging from the movie screen. This tag message supports libraries and all things *magic*. I might mention that one of the audience members is wearing a tiny photo of Ian Rankin's face.
In early July, the staff at The Scottish Storytelling Centre came upon a dragon nesting in a window, carved from an Ian Rankin novel. A message was attached:
For @scotstorycenter - A gift in support of libraries, books, works, ideas..... Once upon a time there was a book and in the book was a nest and in the nest was an egg and in the egg was a dragon and in the dragon was a story.....
All images by photographer Chrisdonia
Update - September 23, 2011: It seems a retired librarian purchased an altered book for his art student son from the incognito artist before similar sculptures began appearing in bookish places around the city. He knows who the artist is, but isn't saying. By the way, if you click the link to read the newspaper article, the poll result was, "No, we don't want to know" [who the artist is], but something tells me we've definitely not heard the last of this puzzle. (via Chrisdonia)
In early July, the staff at The Scottish Storytelling Centre came upon a dragon nesting in a window, carved from an Ian Rankin novel. A message was attached:
For @scotstorycenter - A gift in support of libraries, books, works, ideas..... Once upon a time there was a book and in the book was a nest and in the nest was an egg and in the egg was a dragon and in the dragon was a story.....
Show of hands... anyone else getting chills from all of this amazing creativity?
In August, two more sculptures appeared on the very same day at the bustling Edinburgh International Book Festival, one at the Bookshop and another at UNESCO Edinburgh City of Literature. Once again the mystifying artist managed to slip in and out unnoticed.
The most recent discovery on August 30 at the Central Lending Library on George IV Bridge is a paper magnifying glass balanced on a book. The tag references poet Edwin Morgan as did the first sculpture, and the message is a play on the high cost of precious literature.
I'll be keeping an eye on this fascinating puzzle via photographer Chris Scott's blog, and wonder if we'll ever know the identity of the elusive artist. Meanwhile, plans are being made in Edinburgh to bring all seven sculptures together... that's one exhibit I would love to see!
I'll be keeping an eye on this fascinating puzzle via photographer Chris Scott's blog, and wonder if we'll ever know the identity of the elusive artist. Meanwhile, plans are being made in Edinburgh to bring all seven sculptures together... that's one exhibit I would love to see!
All images by photographer Chrisdonia
Update - September 23, 2011: It seems a retired librarian purchased an altered book for his art student son from the incognito artist before similar sculptures began appearing in bookish places around the city. He knows who the artist is, but isn't saying. By the way, if you click the link to read the newspaper article, the poll result was, "No, we don't want to know" [who the artist is], but something tells me we've definitely not heard the last of this puzzle. (via Chrisdonia)
