San Francisco based artist Alexis Arnold is known for her experimental approach to art, exploring the perception and experience of light and color, the visual effects of time, various geologic processes, and the potential of material.
“If an idea comes before material, I search for the right materials to achieve what I’m envisioning,” she reflected in an interview with Tappan. “If the idea comes from specific materials, I start experimenting and making test pieces, which evolves the idea through the process.”
The end result—be it a sculpture, an installation, or a mixed media two-dimensional artwork—highlights the transformative quality of materials. Case in point: her crystallized book series. Using found books as her source material, she manipulates them with water and borax, turning them into geologic specimens of sorts.
The process itself requires scientific precision. To grow the crystals directly on the books, Arnold creates a supersaturated solution of borax (sodium tetraborate) in boiling water. “When the water boils, its molecules expand, allowing more Borax in,” she explains.
Arnold then submerges the books in the hot, saturated solution and carefully manipulates them to her liking. As the saturated water cools, the molecules shrink and any excess Borax crystallizes.
“Once the solution has completely cooled and the crystals have grown on the submerged book, I drain the solution and dry the fragile, waterlogged work without disturbing its shape,” she adds. “When completely dry, the books hold their new, rigid shapes.”
According to Arnold, the Crystallized Book Series addresses the materiality versus the content of a book. The crystals remove the text and solidify the books into aesthetic, non-functional (and yet, mesmerizing) objects.
“The crystals and book shapes spark a sense of wonder akin to a great piece of literature, like some of the titles I use, but certainly not all, such as an obsolete software manual or old phone book,” she reflects. “It’s been nice to watch an apparent return to the cultural value of printed media while working on the series over the last 6 years.”
You can see the entire series here or follow Arnold on Instagram.
