Islam Aly

Unleash
2017, Edition of 30

3 x 6 x 2"; 15 sections with three folios. Laser cut Mould-made Johannot paper; laser engraved wooden boards, late Coptic binding with leather wrapping bands and wooden clasps. Signed and dated by the artists.

Unleash records an angel's attempt to leave the book. A journey that starts with words about being confined and restrained, the angel appears and slowly makes a path through these words until succeeding to break the phrases and get out of the book. When the angel disappears from the book, the letters of the broken words start forming a human face.

By using a late Coptic binding with straps and clasps, the book structure echoes its content. One wrap has the angel on the wooden clasp; the other wrap has the human face.