Artists' Books

Heartbreak!

As Valentine’s Day approaches, a time when it seems like everyone is deeply in love, it can be challenging times for those recovering from a broken heart. This week we’re diving into themes of romantic heartbreak, sadness, ache, and acceptance.

Sophie Calle is no stranger to the theme of heartbreak. Her books often reflect the sweet ache of overanalyzing the loss of a relationship. Sophie Calle’s book Take Care of Yourself dissects a personal breakup email sent to the artist from her lover, ending their affair. The book follows 107 women’s interpretations of the email, all formed based on the women’s respective professions. For instance, the book features a proofreader proofreading the email, a lawyer coming to the email’s defense, an actor acting out the email, and even an analysis from Calle’s own mother. The book features written annotations and texts, as well as digital documentation, such as video and photographs. Sophie Calle’s Take Care of Yourself was published in 2007 by Actes Sud.

Flash Cards for Forgetting by Tracy Stefanucci is a deck of text-based cards that explores letting go of an unhealthy romantic relationship. The flash cards compile found text and personal writing in an unorganized manner, meaning each deck /of cards is unique in its narrative. The text expresses universal feelings of attachment, desire, and grief, some sentences being completely visible, while others are crossed out. The form of the flash cards helps readers remember how to forget their own attachments. Flash Cards for Forgetting was published in 2016 by Moniker Press.

Design by Troubles: a book about breaking up by Janet Lobberecht and Jinhan Ko follows the breakdown of the two artists’ romantic relationship. The short book includes images of the couple with text written on items in the background or on their bodies explaining why the relationship hadn’t worked out, such as the text “we are not good for each other” written on a doorway and the “it’s all good” written across both artists’ chests. Design by troubles: a book about breaking up is a collaboration of heartbreak and mutual acceptance. Design by Troubles: a book about breaking up was published in 2000 by Art Metropole.

Fragile by Melek Zertal follows a different version of what heartbreak can entail. The beautifully illustrated comic follows a girl trying to write a love letter in a café while being a far distance away from the receiver. The book considers the longing heartbreak that comes from being in a different time zone than the person you love. Zertal’s comic brings a fun and relatable feeling to a lonely experience. Melek Zertal’s Fragile was published in 2018 by Colorama.