Description
Continuum / Unfolding is an artist’s book with two main components: lithograph prints and a paper cast of the artist’s hands using coloured paper pulp.
The lithographs were printed on one continuous sheet of paper folded into eight panels accordian style. The paper is printed both sides using several litho stones. Photo-litho plates were used to make three chine-collé images.
The recto side includes a series of excerpts from books by Canadian women authors (Kristjana Gunnars, The Night Workers of Ragnarök; Margaret Laurence, The Stone Angel; Gabrielle Roy Ces enfants de ma vie; Phyllis Webb, The Vision Tree; Margaret Atwood, Cat’s Eye). All the imagery and writing relates to hands.
Both elements fit into a custom-made fabric-covered cardboard portfolio.
Statement
Continuum / Unfolding was a continuation of a series of projects exploring the meaning of women’s hand gestures. I was particularly interested in creating a response to the representation of women with hands folded passively on their laps. The other hand gestures featured in the print—cupping water, touching, reaching—along with the excerpts of the women authors’ texts, together tell a story of women using their hands.
Karen Trask, 2024