Are These The Most Beautiful Books You’ve Ever Seen—Or the Worst?
We here at House Beautiful have a passion for the art of displaying books that borders on obsession, whether that means arranging them by color (though we have differing opinions on that) to make a design statement on a lackluster shelf or stacking them up just so to create depth and dimension on a coffee table. But one woman has surpassed us all in her fixation on books, taking the idea of zhuzhing up paperback tomes to the next level. While most of us might be unfazed by the prospect of a box of giveaway reading material left on the curb, San Francisco artist Alexis Arnold decided to find creative ways to give them new life.
In her Crystalized Book Series, Arnold turns forgotten volumes into sculptural works that glisten with live-growing crystals. Twisted and contorted into free-flowing forms, the books become untethered to their traditional meaning and context, transforming into non-functional objets that are as beautiful as they are unique. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder, isn’t it? These stopped me, heart-eyed, in my tracks, but some HB editors weren’t so sure of their appeal. Are these things of beauty or unworthy eyesores? Would you bring one of these striking art pieces into your home, assuming the $1000+ price tag was no object? Check out our poll below to tell us what you think.
In the meantime, Arnold’s work will be featured in an exhibition on view at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art through January 6, 2020. Titled Crystals In Art: Ancient to Today, the show covers glittering pieces from every culture and corner of the globe, across the last 5,000 years.
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