Language

The case for the burial of ancestors. Book 1

Paul Zelevansky. The case for the burial of ancestors. Book 1 [manuscript]. [1981?]

Xu Bing. Tianshu. [Book from the sky]. [Beijing: s.n., [1991.]

Ideas conveyed through language are the traditional provenance of books. Xu Bing and Paul Zelevansky each use the book form to represent language and systems of meaning. In Xu Bing’s work the language is unreadable. Though authentically Chinese in style and presentation, Tianshu’s individual characters were wholly fabricated by the artist. To a reader of Mandarin this work presents the problem of appearing perfectly legible while resisting all efforts of literal understanding. Like Xu Bing, Zelevansky exploits the idea that books convey ideas of authority simply through their physical presence. A trilogy of fictional persuasion, The case for the burial of ancestors describes the history and mythology of the Hegemonians, an ancient desert people. Using invented texts and created systems, Book 1 (Geography) is built on several cultural traditions, myths, and legends. Book 1 (here in manuscript form) is housed in a black photo case.