Book 14  The Importance of the Origin of the Knowledge Species Especially where it Involves Generics. Penn, C. (2008) (Fig.12). Unique artist’s book.  Cloth book, pamphlet stitch binding, 30 pages, digital prints, oil paintings, sewing, mixed media.18cm x 20cm.    Book  14. Collection: Cheryl Penn.

This book speaks of the containment of the vastness of knowledge in an intimate volume.  The words are just concepts, and again, the threads tie everything together.   The watches are symbolic of the fact that  current knowledge has an expiry date; knowledge is continually superseded by newer, better knowledge.  Computers and cell phones are outdated with the introduction of the next new model.  As my knowledge of the world around me increases, so I realize how little I know.

The universe extends ad infinitum.  Knowledge is also reworked.  By this I mean that past knowledge is built on in order create new knowledge.  This concept  is alluded to by the use of old paintings (old knowledge), ‘built on’ and expanded in order to create a new image (new knowledge).   But in the end, when I make  certain  knowledge my own,  it becomes subjective.  The book therefore ends with the phrase ‘say what you mean,  mean what you say’.

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