Of Mermaids’ Purses And Freemasons, Roelof Bakker

Of Mermaids’ Purses And Freemasons is a handmade book showing mermaids purses (fish egg cases) found on the beaches of Hastings, East Sussex, photographed over a vintage book of membership rules for the Sidcup branch of freemasons, the purses physically obstructing – redacting– the written rules of an exclusively men-only networking society, thereby undermining a system of patriarchy.

Both book and purses are reproduced at their actual size in an artist’s book using multiple paperstocks, finished with Japanese stab binding using linen thread. Edition of 5.

Handmade artist’s book, 32pp, 23.7cm x 18cm, stab bound. Various paper stocks, linen thread.

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