Hedva Klein
Books have always held a significant presence in my life. A phrase my father reiterated countless times was, "Books are not to be thrown away." Despite financial constraints, we accorded books a place of importance.
If books are not to be discarded, what alternative purpose can they serve? Some were preserved for the benefit of future generations, yet the grandchildren struggled to decipher the archaic language within. I opted to share some with colleagues at work.
Paradoxically, as I held onto certain books, I noticed an increasing number discarded on the streets or in recycling bins. This prompted mixed emotions, eventually leading me to start collecting old books with aging, yellowed pages. However, a sense of unease accompanied me when I contemplated cutting into the book's pages. It felt both inappropriate and somehow right.
Taking a creative turn, I began crafting jewelry from these pages. The unique designs sparked interest, and despite some negative criticism, it strengthened my belief that I was breathing new life into these books. Expanding beyond pages, I delved into studying the book spines, pairing them with free-motion sewing on a machine.
Surprisingly, the book covers were not initially part of my exploration. It was only after a conversation with Guy that I entertained the idea of investigating the covers—a captivating challenge.
Engaging with books serves as a source of relaxation, a constant challenge, and a sustaining interest in my life.
Day 1 23.01.2024 I took a cover of a book, detached the body from the complete cover. Using a brush dipped in water I drew a random line. The water did not penetrate. I made a slot for the water to seep in. After absorbing the water, I separated the edges with a needle. I tore some with my hand. Medium -Book cover
Day 2 24/1/24 I continued working on the same cover. I felt like a geologist - an archaeologist digging into the surface to find out what is hidden there. I created additional channels: deep, flat, narrow, wide. Most of the excavated material remains in the channel.
Day 3 - January 25th Digging deeper into that cover, I tried to go further by wetting the slot/channel that opened. The paper on the cover did not yield to water. The material I removed turned into stones with remains of vegetation among them. Materials: Paper and Luffa
Day 5 - January 27th, 2024 After soaking the second cover overnight, I exposed a white layer, discovering a hidden brown layer underneath. Using a needle, I carefully peeled off the brown layer, creating multiple smooth layers. These were arranged atop the brown part, resembling the textures of Sardinian boulders. In the white sections, I incorporated unwrapped luffa layers, forming an engaging landscape.
Day 4 - January 26th, 2024 I immersed two covers in water overnight, aiming to explore the effects of water-soaked bindings. The experiment revealed intriguing deformations and spaces within the covers. As I began peeling layer by layer, I uncovered a new skill that calls for further exploration and experiences.
ChatGPT Day 6 Date: 28.1.24 Subject: "SHTI" on the Cover of the Book "Culture" Text: Hoti "SHTI" on the cover of the book "Culture." Weaving with silk-wool threads, creating shades of purple-pink and gray. Format: 25x32 cm Medium: Paper and threads.
Day 7 30.1.24 Title: Exposure of Geological Folds In the realm of a geologist, exploration involves digging, examining, and delving above and below the surface, uncovering traces of the past. In my experiment, I focused on a wet cover, choosing to dissect it from the external layer to the core. Typically adorned with fabric or paper, the cover revealed blue paper embellished with gold lettering. By removing sections of the blue paper, I left behind the word "past," mimicking the geologist's act of peeling layers to unveil ancient formations - folds, fractures, replicas. The intentional creases I created embody the essence of a "concerned geologist," with the root K.M.T in Hebrew signifying worry, adding wrinkles to my experience. The stomach, in parallel, "wrinkles" in response to any event. The format stands at 17x25 cm, and the medium used is paper.
Day 8 31.1.24 Title: Cutting the Covers In the pursuit of exploration, I focused on cutting a double cover that had soaked in water throughout the night. One side was meticulously sliced into separate strips, while the other side was cut but remained interconnected. The strips dangled in the two sections, prompting a reflection on my identity as a geologist. Was I still embodying the geological concern that characterized my earlier work? Upon closer examination, I uncovered wrinkles akin to rising and falling waves of worry, resembling a metaphorical roller coaster. However, these concerns extended beyond geological formations. My thoughts delved into the intricate connections of family – the health of my sons in active duty, their professional endeavors, the well-being of daughters-in-law, and the happiness of grandchildren. The intricate web of family life couldn't be neatly separated; everything was intertwined and woven together. In this context, I found myself transforming from a geologist in the conventional sense to a geologist of concern, navigating the complexities of familial worries. The format of this exploration stands at 20x19, with the medium employed being paper.
Day: 9 Cutting the Covers Action: Covers soaked in water. Each cover was cut into a circle, with different diameters. I arranged the covers on top of each other, creating a rise between them, forming the shape of a crater. After placing the bindings, I began to create an opening - the crater's opening. Inspiration: The crater is a depression/pit formed in the earth's crust, on the surface of the earth, with various types and reasons for formation - from a meteorite strike to a volcanic eruption. Reflection: The formation of the crater reveals internal layers. I connected with the geology of worry - many depressions formed in me due to difficult events, fear, restlessness, apathy, and lack of vitality. Some are visible, and some will be revealed over time. Symbolism: The opening in the crater drains out the materials in it - similar to how I, through action and expression, drain out hard feelings. Format: 25x16 Medium: Paper
Day: 10 Date: 2.2.24 Topography created by geological changes. Action: Used a dry book cover. Placed circles, cut in different sizes to form the crater, from large to small. Arranged the circles to create separation between surfaces, resulting in a dome-shaped ridge with a flat upper part. Channels started forming, collecting materials with them. Revealed materials showcase what was hidden in the ridge, now visible. Materials were driven down the channel to the drift fan, unveiling the geological composition of the ridge. Reflection: Pure geology accompanied me in the process, and the initial geological concern was pushed aside. Less anxiety was felt. Format: 15x23 Medium: Paper Photography Note: The photo was taken on a white background with a border around the work.
Day 11 3.2.24 Title: A Crease I cut a book into strips and soaked them in water. The strips fragmented into sub-stripes. Similar to geological folding, where pressure on one side causes the opposite side to rise and fold, forming mountain ranges, I observed a parallel in my work. After creating mountains and ridges, a drifting action occurs (by water, wind, etc.), establishing a drift base. Geology unveils wrinkled layers beneath the outer mantle. Similarly, the geology of worries remains hidden from the outside; only through dialogue, the removal of the outer layer, can one discover the concealed emotions within. Format: 24.5x15 cm Medium: Paper
Date: 7.2.24 Day 13 Title: Tearing of the Cover In today's exploration, I impulsively tore the wet cover, not anticipating the outcome, and then carefully placed it back. The resulting imagery reminded me of the Syrian-African fault, symbolizing the shifting of plates and the creation of a new path. Much like geological processes involving tearing, displacement, and exposure, my creative endeavor mirrored these natural phenomena. The geologist of my concerns allowed things to unfold organically, permitting an eruption from within. Similar to geological changes occurring at weak points, my worries acted as a diagnostic tool, pinpointing weak spots and facilitating the release, allowing for new actions to emerge. The tearing and reassembling of the cover gave rise to something entirely new. Size: 24.5X18 cm Medium: Paper
Date: Day 14 Title: The Watermarks on the Cover In today's exploration, I observed the watermarks left on the cover. Following the drying process, I carefully traced over the contours with a black pen. Placing the cover horizontally, I adorned it with pieces of handmade Kozo paper. In the lower margins, a part of the book remained visible. I deliberately exposed it, subsequently cutting and tearing it away. The water played a pivotal role in fully revealing this section. Contemplating the process, I questioned the whereabouts of geology within my creative endeavor. At that moment, I found myself without a clear answer, acknowledging the possibility that I may have distanced myself from its influence. Size: 22X23 cm Medium: Paper
Date: Day 15 Title: Landscape Picture For today's exploration, I engaged in creating a landscape picture. I tore paper into small fragments and randomly placed them on the cover. Upon closer observation, the geology within the image became apparent. The aerial perspective, combined with a side view, unveiled ridges, crevices, and interweaving channels—some wide, some narrow. This experience brought me closer to the essence of geology once again. Working with torn paper was a novel technique for me, as crafting a collage differs from my usual methods. Size: 22X14.5 cm Medium: Paper
Day 16 Title: Landscape Picture Continuing my exploration of the landscape motif, I worked on a cover that bore traces left by water. Choosing to experiment further with torn covers, I juxtaposed a complete cover with a torn one. The perspective shifted, offering a different view than before—something revealed when observing from below. Utilizing the torn fragments, I fashioned mountain ranges. In this creative process, the result of the geology became evident to me. Size: 21x25 cm Medium: Paper
Day 17 Title: Landscape Picture In this iteration, I worked on a cover marked by water outlines. Employing torn cover fragments, including a separated spine that I repositioned, I crafted contours of a landscape. The resulting image depicted ridges, shears, some overlapping, and others side by side—a geological landscape shaped by various processes in the Earth's depths. Interestingly, the geological concern that was prominent in previous works feels repressed in this piece. Size: 17x25 cm Medium: Paper
Day 18 Title: Tearing off the Cover This work involved a tearing action captured in a video. The resulting tears were scattered on my desktop, unordered and disorganized. I gathered them in my hand and placed them on the cover, creating a geological scene. The eruption lifted layers, causing them to land on top of each other. The outcome showcased wrinkling, breaking, areas raised above the surface, folding, and overlapping. The pile of tears offered a different perspective, highlighting the formation of something new, distinct from previous explorations. Size: 24.5x31 cm Medium: Paper
Day 19 Rolled cover Manipulation on the cover - rolling Rolling the cover in a dry state did not work, there was no flexibility. I wet the cover and then I was able to roll. The rolling created cracks. The cracks are incipient. Geologically, they will get deeper and deeper as time goes by. The weather will affect them. I decided to leave the rolled cover outside, exposed to the weather, we'll see what the results will be. Lately, cracks have started to form in me due to the situation we are in, and the prolonged recruitment of the boys. I try not to make the cracks deeper. We have no real control over nature. What is happening is also the result of neglect. Size 17X4.5 cm Medium - paper
Day 20 Title: Tearing off the Cover - Continued Exploration Continuing my exploration, I tore the cover by hand without prior thought or planning. The torn cover now serves as a foundation for further work. Utilizing it as a substrate, I tore additional cover pieces into a pile, creating a mountain resembling rock formations. These rock formations were shaped by tectonic action, showcasing cavities, veins, and randomly placed slabs. The process allowed me to express myself freely, capturing the spontaneous act through photography. A sense of liberation accompanied by laughter and pleasure emerged. In this creative process, the geologist within me unveils the unique formations, each bearing arterial, ready-made characteristics. Size: 24x18 cm Medium: Paper
Day 21 Title: Creative Iterations with Cover In this creative endeavor, I revisited the cover from Day 14, reflecting on my previous observation of potentially drifting away from archaeological exploration. Removing the previously laid paper, I resumed tearing over it. Engaging in this meditative action brought about a sense of release and pleasure. The cover paper underwent a transformation, displaying changing colors and the spontaneous drawing of book outlines—an avenue of books materializing without excessive contemplation. Positioned above, the camera captured clippings of dried covers, torn into small pieces, and dispersed onto the base cover. This action, coupled with a hint of contemplation about future steps, provided me with satisfaction. The combination of diverse actions—digging, scissor cutting, tearing by hand, and wetting—prompted thoughts about potential new manipulations, such as cooking and layering. The desire for fresh experiences lingered. Size: 22x13 cm Medium: Paper
Day 22 What's happening inside? How do you illustrate what occurs beneath the surface, beneath the cover? What technique is required to bring this idea to life? Geologically speaking, dolomite rocks, hard limestone – rocks through which water seeps. Seepage creates internal erosion. When the top layer is removed due to external erosion, the internal erosion is laid bare. I worked with a very old cover that was easily disassembled into layers in its dry state. Massive covers are challenging to unpack by hand, so I gently dismantled it layer by layer. Some layers were rounded, some torn, and I allowed them to remain in motion. The paper tore naturally during the disassembling process, creating cavities that are revealed when the outer shell is removed. The question arose: How do I create a shell over these spaces, through which the inner workings can be observed? I considered something transparent yet flexible. Parchment paper came to mind – attached on one side and falling on the other side onto the spaces. The resulting spaces created black spots, resembling arteries between them, utilizing a ready-made cover. The concerned geologist endeavors to expose the inner spaces that have opened up within her – fears, worries, and anxieties stored and created inside. For the duration of the boys' enlistment, I did not allow myself to fall apart, be exposed, or succumb to illness. Something is breaking within me, and the process is beginning to allow fears to surface. I am currently experiencing a severe cold, which is also part of this transformative process.
Day 23 How do you technically express internal geology? Originally, the plan was to shred the leftover paper from the geological excavation, pour it inside with pom poms and nylon stockings filled with filler. After drying, the intention was to remove the pom poms and nylon stockings and then cut to reveal the inner layers. However, due to rainy weather, I couldn't execute this plan at the moment. Instead, I used something I had made a few months ago from fruit and egg cartons using a similar technique. The holes, the spaces created after removing the tights and pom poms, revealed what was happening beneath the surface. These spaces vary in size and shape, with some closed and others open. The holes allow light to penetrate, illuminating and focusing the gaze on the spaces. This geological exploration allows the concerned geologist to focus on and address those concerns. The geological concern brings itself - the spaces represent various concerns and their consequences. The geological concern consists of layers between a visible world and a hidden world of reality. The cover, by its nature, consists of layers, akin to the layers in geology. The spaces created symbolize my concerns. Each concern has its burden, resulting in different shapes and sizes. I am uncertain whether this is the ideal way to showcase the inside. Perhaps there's no need to illustrate the interior as it influences the exterior. I don't have a definitive answer at the moment. I plan to return to Nehama Levendal to further understand and learn.
Day 24 Continuing the experiment - an inward look - how do I technically express it? I made two attempts to look inside. At the moment, I don't know how to proceed or what other techniques can be used to depict the interior. I returned to the surface with another manipulation - folding. Another experiment involved a cover that is easy to disassemble without getting it wet. Another cover that I can't take apart, and I used scissors to reduce the surface area, creating separated strips. The strips are folded and stacked. The surface creates channels, diverging lines through which light penetrates the inner shell. The use of the cover gives it meaning. I remain faithful to the materiality of the covers and do not add other materials. The boulders and the channels make a way for themselves, just as I create a geological path of concern and discover power, resilience, continuity, and vitality.
Day 25 Inspired by Nechama Levendel. To make a decision on what I focus on and which object I develop, I returned to Levendel. Nechama works with book covers, on which she creates collages. This technique is less familiar to me, I am less connected to it, and it connects me less to geology. Nevertheless, I chose to try it before I ruled it out. I chose a cover and created a collage from parts left over from my previous works. Spines, papers. I created an imaginary landscape picture - I felt less the geology and less the geology of concern. It seems to me that now I can return to all my work, understanding that the work should only be a net of the binding materials, connect, and try to continue developing. Size – 22x17 Medium - paper
Day 23 How do I technically express the internal geology? The plan was to shred the paper left over from the geological excavation. Pour it inside with pom poms and nylon stockings with filler. After drying take out the pom poms and nylon stockings then cut to reveal the inner layers. I could not do it because of the rainy weather. I used what I made a few months ago from fruit and egg cartons using the same technique. The holes, the spaces created after removing the tights and pom poms, revealed what was happening beneath the surface. The spaces are not similar - they differ in size and shape. Closed spaces, open spaces. The holes allow the penetration of light. The light illuminates and focuses the gaze on the spaces. The concern geologist can focus on the concern, and treat it. The geological concern brings itself - the spaces represent the various concerns and their consequences. The geological concern consists of layers between a visible world and a hidden world of reality. The cover by its nature consists of layers, like the layers in geology. The spaces created are my concerns. Each concern has its burden and therefore its shape and size are different. I'm not sure this is the way to show the inside. Could it be that there is no need for an interior because it affects the exterior? I don't have an answer right now I return to Nehama levendel, and try to understand and learn.
Day 26 We are creating a landscape using the technique of tearing, folding, and digging. I used a cover that can be disassembled when dry. After separating several layers, I created a substrate. From the separated layers, I formed a landscape route, resembling geological folding. In between the layers, I found threads and attached pieces of paper, leaving them in their authentic state. I created a channel in the crease, part of which was dug, forming deep holes and channels. Using the same binding, I fashioned boulders of various sizes, placing them randomly. The geological concern is omnipresent, taking different forms, partly visible and partly hidden. Worry represents a diversity of thoughts that resurface repeatedly, accumulating on top of each other. The boulders are stacked as a consequence of geological activity, and the wrinkling creates geological forms beyond our control. The result is visually apparent. Size – 28x21x7 Medium - paper
Day 20
Title: Tearing off the Cover - Continued Exploration
Continuing my exploration, I tore the cover by hand without prior thought or planning. The torn cover now serves as a foundation for further work. Utilizing it as a substrate, I tore additional cover pieces into a pile, creating a mountain resembling rock formations.
These rock formations were shaped by tectonic action, showcasing cavities, veins, and randomly placed slabs. The process allowed me to express myself freely, capturing the spontaneous act through photography. A sense of liberation accompanied by laughter and pleasure emerged.
In this creative process, the geologist within me unveils the unique formations, each bearing arterial, ready-made characteristics.
Size: 24x18 cm
Medium: Paper