DIORAMA BOOKS
Wood, bookbinding papers, bookcloth, aluminum panels, tassels
Varied sizes
2013
A series of books-as-objects. The series encompasses a four book quadrilogy: Diorama Book I, Diorama Book II, Ziggurat, and Flatworld. Each feature excerpts of text along the fore edges and archaic images along the façades. Diorama Books borrows imagery from historical moments sourced from the American Museum of Natural History. Each book displays superimposed images of the skeleton of a robotic toy, Elmo Rocco, a nod to Wortzel's robotic artwork from the early 2000s. The Elmo Rocco warrior poses throughout the dioramic scenes, expressing a feeling of both humor and sincerity. The Elmo Rocco's represent opaque entities, solid as rocks, and claiming their place in the world, as entertainers, educators, engineers and engrossing delights.
Photos by Stanton Schell