Bookmaking in progress
2005
Exhibitions & publications
Fit To Be Bound, Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY (2010)
Art D'Eco, Gallery 125, Trenton, NJ (2010)
Reclaim, Reuse, Renew, Ball State University, IN (2009)
Bibliophoria, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA (2009)
Inside/Outside - Book Arts, Foundry Art Centre, St. Charles, MO (2009)
re-bound, Jeannine Stein, Quarry Books (2009)
Dog-eared, Purdue University, IN (2008)
500 Handmade Books, Lark Books (2008)
Theme Magazine (2007)
10 Years Running, Chelsea Art Museum, New York, NY (2007)
Various collections
2005-2006
Self-portrait - experimentation
2000. © Dennis Yuen.
Artist's Statement
About Dennis Yuen
Artist's Statement
Through book art, I seek to create narratives through the object’s physical form and binding.
I am fascinated by a piece’s self-reflection and questioning on its own form. In book art, I find the “book form” itself an intriguing subject to explore. Viewers are confronted with the definitions and conventions of the medium when they see my work.
In my work, an object’s form becomes an essential part of the object’s message and existence as art. It is self-referential. We tend to think that only the texts and images inside a book tell stories; but in fact, the structure and form of a book have a lot to offer in the narrative as well.
Book art is a unique form in which the “book form” is indispensible from the theme I wish to communicate. A piece of text or image can undoubtedly exist in another form and continues to tell its story, but as soon as it resides inside a “book,” it takes on the qualities of that physical vessel, and the decision of using that vessel automatically becomes part of the message.
I often see the visual composition of a book as a graphic designer arranging shapes and colors through the materials. The physical book becomes a canvas that uses its own lines, shapes, forms and colors. I strive for a harmony between perfection and imperfection in my work. Imperfection creates individuality, and it also generates new possibilities and perspectives.
My favorite tool is the bone folder. It folds and thus transforms a flat sheet. The collaboration and interplay between sheets gives a book its shape. I take pictures of every book that I make. I find that through photography, books are instantly transformed into graphic art.
Dennis Yuen
April 2010
About Dennis Yuen
Dennis Yuen is an artist and award-winning designer who works with a range of media including: book arts, interactive media, photography, film and video. He is a partner of the consulting business litchinut. Dennis has designed, developed and managed numerous interactive projects for clients including American Express, Tribeca Film Festival, Dorling Kindersley, Devilliar Donegan Enterprises, Public Affairs Television, Food Network, Lifetime Television, PBS, United Nations and UNICEF. Recently he has led the development of mobile walking tours as one of the most cutting-edge content delivery platforms in the US.
Dennis has been making books since he was a child. He practices Coptic, long stitch, stab, pamphlet and flat-back binding, often applying variations on these traditional techniques to fascinating effect. He works combine his knowledge in graphic design and technology with book arts. Dennis's work has been shown in a number of galleries and featured in various publications. Since 2004, he has been maintaining his own paper and bookmaking blog, Cai Lun, which has gained popularity in the bookbinding community.
Dennis holds a Bachelor degree in film from Hong Kong Baptist University and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Parsons School of Design.
Visit parallelbarrel.com for Dennis's portfolio for his digital and design work.
Site design by the artist.
