Graham York Rare Books
In Graham York Rare Books, I explore the sensory and emotional tapestry woven within the quiet aisles of a second-hand bookstore. This CMYK silkscreen print on textured cotton paper captures more than just shelves filled with books; it encapsulates a visceral experience that speaks to the soul of every lover of literature.
The artwork presents four shelves lined with the colourful spines of books, their categories labeled with local touches like ‘Dartmoor’ and ‘West Country’, grounding the piece in a specific place and community. Overlaid in translucent white, the words TOUCH SMELL TASTE LOVE drift ghost-like across the rows, fading at the edges as if disappearing into the forgotten corners of memory. These words are not merely labels but evocations of the senses awakened in such a space—the feel of aged pages beneath fingertips, the distinctive aroma of old paper that lingers in the air, the almost tangible taste of history and stories untold, and the deep affection that draws us back time and again.
The decision to forgo glass in the presentation, mounting the piece on hardboard with borders painted to match, invites a direct and unmediated interaction. The textured cotton paper beckons the viewer to experience the artwork's surface, much like one would run a hand along the spines of books on a shelf—echoing the tactile theme that is central to the piece.
Inspiration for this work draws from artists like Ed Ruscha, who seamlessly melds text with imagery to elevate everyday scenes into profound meditations. Like Ruscha’s exploration of language and landscape, the overlay of sensory words in my piece creates a dialogue between the visual and the verbal, prompting reflection on how these elements shape our experiences.
Similarly, the materiality and textural emphasis resonate with Anselm Kiefer’s focus on the sensory engagement of viewers. The artwork becomes not just seen but felt, embodying the weight of stories and the passage of time.
Thematically, the piece delves into nostalgia, memory, and the enduring bond between people and the physicality of books—an essence captured poetically by Pablo Neruda in his Ode to the Book (II):
"Book, beautiful
book,
smallest forest,
leaf after leaf..."
These lines reflect the infinite worlds contained within pages, mirroring the layers of meaning in my work.
Billy Collins’s poem Marginalia also echoes in the silent conversations between past readers and the books they’ve touched:
"Sometimes the notes are ferocious,
skirmishes against the author..."
The ghostly words in the print symbolize these lingering imprints—personal histories and emotions that become part of the books themselves.
By capturing the multisensory experience of the second-hand bookstore, Touch, Smell, Taste, Love pays homage to the intimate and tactile joys that digital media cannot replicate. It is a celebration of the tangible connections we forge with literature, the sensory rituals that accompany the discovery of a beloved book, and the shared human experiences found within the "smallest forest" of pages.
As Charles Simic mused:
‘Books are
the house of the spirits,
the only home we know."
This artwork is an invitation to step into that home, to remember the simple yet profound pleasures of touching, smelling, tasting, and loving the stories that shape us.
Read more about the works in this series - Click on an image below …
