Objects of desire

Objects of desire

'Objects of Desire' is an extension of selected concepts that are explored at length in Rhiannan Johnson's doctoral dissertation 'Disrupted Meaning: A study of subverting logic through artists' books' (University of Southern Queensland, 2014).

In this article, Johnson focuses on the potential for artist books, as derived from more traditional codex book objects, to activate a sense of desire in the viewer or reader. This is, in Lacanian terms, in response to a perceived lack, which Johnson asserts can be brought about by departures staged from the book as sequential narrative object. These departures can be based on content, material or structure, and can lead a viewer to engage with the book work in a different physical and conceptual manner, while simultaneously attempting to unite the object with their prior understanding of its function.

'Objects of Desire' outlines key characteristics of more conventional book objects, some ways in which these can be disrupted or subverted through artist books, how desire can become a driving force in the reinterpretation of and engagement with with art works that utilise the book as material, and how this can be understood in terms of reception, value and meaningful experience.

Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions.