galerie probst
Francois du Plessis transforms old books into art objects by combining spines, front and back covers, headbands and book cuts to create sculptures and collage-like wall objects. Each book artwork tells a new "book story" made up of different books and their materials, but the original stories remain hidden behind the spines.
The color of his artwork is determined by the material, influenced by the colorful memories of his childhood in South Africa. These colors and the aesthetics of nature that he captures through photography are reflected in his works. Many of his works are reminiscent of cross-sections of tree trunks and are a tribute to the "artworks of nature".
“The only content of the books that remains is the title of a book, which I also use as the title for my artwork.”
To find materials, du Plessis roams through flea markets, antique shops and estates, although the literary content of the books is of no interest to him. He is more fascinated by the colours, shapes and materials, especially the coloured book edges and gold edges of hymn books, which give his works of art a special shine.
In the digital world, Francois du Plessis uses his analogue book art to emphasize the cultural significance of the book medium and invites us to appreciate its revaluation as an art form.
