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Description

"This piece was inspired by a fictional city in Italo Calvino's novel Invisible Cities, in which humans and animals struggle for control of the city. Through recurrent exterminations, humans are victorious and defeat all other species to produce an oasis of non-zoological sterility that is set forth as a most "exclusive image of human city." I wanted to convey this tension between the human and the inhuman primarily through color choice. By collaging, pieces of paper that started with a forest green and ended with a barren tan, I intended to emphasize the humans' encroachment upon the surrounding land. The buildings are painted a simple jet black to furthermore reiterate the void and black hole that arose when the humans made their artificial division with nature. Ultimately, I wanted to convey the consequences of ignoring the common thread between humans and those whom we perceive to be subhuman" --

Details

Title
Invasive species -- Homo sapiens
Creator
Chen, Brian,, book artist.
DeMonchaux, Nicholas,, Teacher.
University of California, Berkeley. College of Environmental Design,, host institution.
Full Collection Name
Artist Books
Subject (Person)
Calvino, Italo. Città invisibili Adaptations.
Subject (Corporate)
University of California, Berkeley. College of Environmental Design Students -- Pictorial works.
Subject (Topic)
Artists' books California -- Berkeley -- Specimens.
Introduced organisms In art.
Human-plant relationships In art.
Human ecology in art.
Nature Effect of human beings on -- In art.
Type
Image
Extent
1 volume (xv, 288 pages)
Other Physical Details
all color illustrations
Dimensions
29 cm
Archive
Environmental Design Library
Note
Artist book elaborated for Prof. Nicholas deMonchaux's Environmental Design 01 class, December, 2017.
Title and statement of responsibility from accompanying sheet.
One-of-a-kind artist book using as base 1 vintage art book (Van Gogh up close); all pages up to and including page 184 have partially cut out centers, leaving a rectangular frame showcasing an increasing, encroaching human environment represented by colored layers, partly collaged, and some black three-dimensional structures glued on. No text by the book artist inside book. (Original page numbering and printed text relevant as material only).
Usage Statement
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View library catalog record.
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