Morning2012

An artist's book that explores the recent history of Iraq through a modern first person text about a woman going about her daily life (visiting the market, preparing her evening meal), which also hints at the loss of her husband and sons. Vertical foldouts reveal another ancient text (an extract from the Epic of Gilgamesh, in which Gilgamesh mourns the death of his friend Enkidu), printed in a different colour ink with a light background image. The main illustrations, on semi-transparent vellum paper, are photos of men's clothing, suggesting the woman's sons' clothes ready for their return or perhaps Enkidu's clothes, folded and ready to be buried with his body. The cover depicts a Sumerian clay tablet, with the Akkadian letters for part of the Gilgemesh text deeply embossed into the heavy cover stock. (Partly adapted from text prepared by the artist for the Book Arts website at the Centre for Fine Print Research, UK).