Mark Manders
Book with Nails
2005-2025
Wood, paper, ink, and nails
20.5 x 28 x 5 cm
The work can either be presented on a wall or flat in a vitrine
12 copies numbered and signed by the artist, plus 2 APs and 2 PPs
As the title suggests, this edition consists of a book pierced by two nails – except that the book is made of wood, in line with Mark Manders’ penchant for playing with the illusion of materials. On the cover of the book is a photo of one of the artist’s installations enhanced with a marker. The work features Unfired Clay Figure, a crucial piece from 2005-2006 that combines the plan of a building delineated by writing implements and bits of wood, with a split human figure standing on an assemblage of chairs. While the piece already highlights the architectural, sculptural, and graphic foundations of a singular mental universe, its presence on the cover of a book refers to the autobiographical dimension of Mark Manders’ project. In turn, the book appears in My Bed (1992-2024), which consists of a large bed, half of which is occupied by a pile of objects that suggest a person lying down. As in Matryoshka dolls, Book with Nails is at once a fragment of a whole, an entity unto itself, and a receptacle for another element. It reflects the totality of the work while retaining an irresolvable element of mystery, as suggested by the two nails that ensure that its contents remain secret.
Mark Manders's exhibition took place at Keijiban from February 15 to March 14, 2025.