Artist's Book: Bound to Break | inconcertwithglass

Bound to Break (2009)

Flame-worked and kiln cast glass, monochromatic c-prints, silk, bookboard, ink , 6.25in x 7.5in x .75in (closed book)

'Bound to Break' explores the mental trappings that we wear as daily accessories, which immobilise us and bind us to unwanted situations and circumstances. I created flame-worked chains and cast glass shackles and then wore them to make self-portrait images, which resemble fashion photographs. I hand-bound the images together in an artist's book to tell a story. This work was exhibited in Bibliophoria II: The Art of the Book, a juried, group exhibit presented by Sebastopol Art Center in 2011 and Handle with Care, a juried group glass exhibition presented by The Foundry Art Centre in 2010.

Portrait of the artist's book. I used French and kettle stitching to bind the pages and glass chain and silk from the photo shoot to create the closure. (Image: Lisa Naas)

'Bound to Break' opened to page 4 with the glass chain closure acting as a bookmark. (Image: Lisa Naas)

Additional views of the 'Bound to Break' book (Images: Lisa Naas)

I cast my hands in glass to hold the book during exhibitions. (Image: Lisa Naas)

This image shows the glass shackles, chains, and black silk are shown in this image before I wore them for the photo shoot. For exhibition, I have installed them beside the book or at the foot of the plinth or display. (Image: Lisa Naas)

A closer look at the glass (Image: Lisa Naas)

I hot-glued the shackles in place to wear it all for the photo shoot. This image is raw footage from the shoot. (Image: Lisa Naas & Adrianne Hee))

This is another raw image from the photo shoot/glass-wearing performance where I play off Barbara Kruger's 'Untitled' photo collage with the words 'Your Gaze Hits the Side of My Face'. 'Your Gaze Hits' is written in lipstick on my cheek. (Image: Lisa Naas & Adrianne Hee)