EXTRACTION (2022) Artist book, 26 x 14 x 5cm
‘Extraction’ is a book made during a publication project in collaboration with Banner Repeater. Artist books bridge the gap between conceptual writing and artwork creation. Extraction is the shape of a piece of orbital debris. It was inspired by a NASA database of manmade objects left on the moon. ‘Extraction’ considers the moment an object becomes artefact depending on its environmental context. Objects on the database include ordinary items such as coins, hygiene products and items of clothing. When placed in the context of the moon, these discarded objects transition from mundane to artefact and become monumental. This applies to rocks or objects seen in a museum or at an archaeological site. Because of their display or context, we view them with renewed interest. The viewer must remove the book from its container as if they were extracting a partially buried object. The text discusses the array of manmade items left on the moon to highlight the amount of litter in space.