Specimen

2019

Book

Specimen explores the subject of decay by drawing parallels between the organic rust marks on paper and bacterial growth in a petri dish. Not only are there similarities visually, but the spread and multiplication of bacteria is reminiscent of the way decay (represented here by rust) slowly spreads and takes over.

Specimen is a back-to-back accordion-fold book, constructed from two concertinas (one rusted dyed with tea, the other black paper with cut-out windows) that are stitched together, with black thread, in the valleys. The cover boards are covered with tea and rust dyed paper and it is completed with a removeable cover made from black card with a window cut out and a ribbon to tie closed.