encountering WB: a re reading

 This piece is worked directly on the pages of the 1960s novel (“Birds of America”) by the American writer, Mary McCarthy. The story  parallels Benjamin’s own in many ways: a young Jewish student [and flâneur] in Paris, his travels and encounters with cities and lieux.  The novel presents a somewhat brighter mirror to Benajmin’s  experiences  (WWI&II, anti-semitisme)  and is situated during the American’s own Vietnam [Indochine] War.

Black gouache redacts all but the significant words, names, places, and ideas that by total coincidence relate to Benjamin’s own physical [flâneur] experience of Paris.

Gouache on 346 newsprint book pages, each 38 x 56 cm.  2016.