28 Letters (2013)

28 Letters (2013)
Islam Aly
Laser-cut handmade flax paper. Three hole pamphlet binding in an accordion binding. Linen thread, handmade paper covers. 
Closed H147 x W154 x D15 (fore-edge) D37 (spine) mm; open 845 mm. 28 folios. Edition of 40 of which this is #4.
Acquired from the artist, 5 February 2019.
Photos: Books On Books Collection.

Each of the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet is laser-cut on a folio. The binding‘s flexibility allows for exploration and interaction with the letters as well as multiple forms of display.

Further Reading

Interview by Matt Kalasky for TGMR, the Galleries at Moore Radio, Moore College of Art and Design. Suzanne Seesman, Islam Aly, Abdul Karim Awad, and Yaroub Al-Obaidi discuss Friends, Peace, and Sanctuary project, Philadelphia, PA. Podcast 8 May 2019. Accessed 12 January 2020.

Interview for Sheffield Artist’s BookCentre, October 2, 2019. Accessed 12 January 2020.

Interview by Laurence Kesterson, for Friends, Peace, and Sanctuary project, Swarthmore College Library and the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility 2017. Accessed 12 January 2020.

Interview by Spring 2017 Scripps College Art 137 seminar class. This interview was featured in Of Color: Race & Identity in Artists’ Books exhibit catalogue. Accessed 12 January 2020.

Golden, Alisa. “Book for a Book: A Trade with Artist Islam Aly“, Making Handmade Books, 20 April 2015. Accessed 12 January 2020.

Bookmarking Book Art – ABCs, 29 November 2015.