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the Turtle and the Monk

Anaïs López
Self-Published
Artist book
ISBN 9789082076165
122,5 x162,5 mm
245 x 325 mm

This book recounts the true story of visual artist and photographer Anaïs López’ search for the golden turtle Kami, goddess of the Kamo river. A multi-layered narrative about grief, the human urge to control nature, and the magic of the imagination. The publication comes in two parts: the story begins in a small red book and continues in a second volume with a wooden cover, in which the small red book is housed.This bilingual edition (English & Japanese) blends photography, gyotaku prints, and photopolymer etchings by Anaïs López with delicate ink drawings by Japanese artist Niwa Yuta.

Performance boek
297 x 394 mm
545 x 725 mm

This large-format book was developed specifically for the performance of The Turtle and the Monk. When the book is closed, the red book fits inside the larger one. Anaïs López brings the two to the stage as a single object: she first removes the red book, then unfolds the large book into a chair. Seated on it, she begins the performance by reading aloud from the red book. Once the red book is finished, she folds the chair flat again, kneels before it, opens the large book and continues her story — turning through a succession of photographs and ink drawings, giant fold-outs and original prints of traditional print techniques.

Both books form part of a multimedia project comprising an experimental film by Prospektor, an artist’s book, a performance book and an exhibition.