Horse.
A book constructed and designed around the theme of memory after death,
and the absurdity of remembrance. The contents of the book are entirely typographic.
Three copies of the book exist, two copies have been sold.
Process Documentation:
Dive Deeper
Horse explores and dissects the absurdities that exist within the infinity of memory after death.
It explores memory, research, and retention through the uncovers process.
Horse utilizes satire and absurdity as a vehicle of communication. The book was limited to strictly typographic and geometric contents. Any depiction of a figurative subject is presented through a loophole. Most of these loopholes are addressed in the captioning on the pages.
Something to notice: coding language is used as a decorative element throughout the book. It also functions as a caption or comedic commentator at times.
The book begins with a table of context. When unfolded, the page depicts the index section of a death record book breaking down death records in Eastern New York from 1700-1867. This is the basis of the entire book. These death records set the foundation for the research in the book.
We zoom in on one particular death that stood out to me on this page: Margaret Mott. For this following section, we will page by page, lose parts of the statement of death. This reflects what we retain and what we forget when absorbing information regarding this matter. Turn the first page and you lose her first name and the date of death. This page explores the Mott family (her husband’s family). Turn to the next page and you lose the rest of her name. She is now simply known by her husband’s title. This page depicts the little information found on her family, as well as the property rights of women at the time. Margaret died 48 years too early to own property over her death. Turn to the next page and you are left with the most memorable aspect of her death: the horse she fell off of.
Horse utilizes satire and absurdity as a vehicle of communication. The book was limited to strictly typographic and geometric contents. Any depiction of a figurative subject is presented through a loophole. Most of these loopholes are addressed in the captioning on the pages.
Something to notice: coding language is used as a decorative element throughout the book. It also functions as a caption or comedic commentator at times.
The book begins with a table of context. When unfolded, the page depicts the index section of a death record book breaking down death records in Eastern New York from 1700-1867. This is the basis of the entire book. These death records set the foundation for the research in the book.
We zoom in on one particular death that stood out to me on this page: Margaret Mott. For this following section, we will page by page, lose parts of the statement of death. This reflects what we retain and what we forget when absorbing information regarding this matter. Turn the first page and you lose her first name and the date of death. This page explores the Mott family (her husband’s family). Turn to the next page and you lose the rest of her name. She is now simply known by her husband’s title. This page depicts the little information found on her family, as well as the property rights of women at the time. Margaret died 48 years too early to own property over her death. Turn to the next page and you are left with the most memorable aspect of her death: the horse she fell off of.
The next section, introduced by a series of numerically shaped numbers dives into another
case found in the death index. Through this “chapter,” I explore the absurdity of digital memory
research.
Something to notice: the introductory pages leading up to this section are not abstract forms, but rather the code indicating Caleb Haight’s placement in the death index.
Though the internet is a vital resource in the preservation of memory, it has a terrifying way of making a single life (or death) seem microscopic in the infinity pool that is digital information. When researching Caleb Haight’s name, google acquired 17,000,000 web page results. That is of course after it autocorrected his name to Caleb Height, and proceeded to give me details on the importance of unmeasurable when measuring football player Caleb William‘s height. On this page, I pulled out a few digital paths that opened immediately upon searching for his name. One of my favorite moments was when researching Caleb Haight of 1823, I found a webpage on Caleb Haight the golf player. Immediately a historical section caught my eye and I clicked on it in hopes of uncovering some juicy family history. Instead, the webpage read :
Historical 2016-207 2017-2018.
The next page shows another curious find in researching Caleb Haight. This Caleb Haight, who is not the one I was personally seeking, was buried with his tombstone shown on the page. Immediately next to his tombstone stood the tombstone titled “his wives”.
Finally, on the next page, we discover the truth of the matter: nothing can be trusted. I close the book off with a reflection on how you, the reader, will be remembered. And with a final close of the book and a glance at the cover, we are reminded of what we have learned: horse.
Something to notice: the introductory pages leading up to this section are not abstract forms, but rather the code indicating Caleb Haight’s placement in the death index.
Though the internet is a vital resource in the preservation of memory, it has a terrifying way of making a single life (or death) seem microscopic in the infinity pool that is digital information. When researching Caleb Haight’s name, google acquired 17,000,000 web page results. That is of course after it autocorrected his name to Caleb Height, and proceeded to give me details on the importance of unmeasurable when measuring football player Caleb William‘s height. On this page, I pulled out a few digital paths that opened immediately upon searching for his name. One of my favorite moments was when researching Caleb Haight of 1823, I found a webpage on Caleb Haight the golf player. Immediately a historical section caught my eye and I clicked on it in hopes of uncovering some juicy family history. Instead, the webpage read :
Historical 2016-207 2017-2018.
The next page shows another curious find in researching Caleb Haight. This Caleb Haight, who is not the one I was personally seeking, was buried with his tombstone shown on the page. Immediately next to his tombstone stood the tombstone titled “his wives”.
Finally, on the next page, we discover the truth of the matter: nothing can be trusted. I close the book off with a reflection on how you, the reader, will be remembered. And with a final close of the book and a glance at the cover, we are reminded of what we have learned: horse.
