[11 tablets for reading]

(“He who saw the deep” by Sin-liqe-unninni is an epic poem from Ancient Mesopotamia and is among the earliest known works of literary fiction.)
artist’s book, 11 concertina folded books in a cardboard case.
2005 (the degree work)

From 15, November 2004 till 20, June, 2005 I discovered the traces of
a lost text, worn out inscriptions, maps of unknown reference, drawings and schemes representing cities, itineraries, geometrical figures and algebraic expressions, astronomic observations and constellations. These artifacts were classified into several books. Completely heterogeneous at first sight, later on they all revealed common formal features, which unequivocally indicated a single point of origin of the messages they concealed. Surfaces uniformly speckled with signs, fragments of brickwork, austere monumental shapes and – as exact antithesis – intricate and tangled structures, labyrinths resembling convoluted intestines of sacrificed animals, celestial bodies’ trajectories, abundant ornaments – all of these spoke of their country of origin – the ancient Mesopotamia. The results of deciphering were overwhelming – each piece contained a fragment of Epic of Gilgamesh! Further investigation and expeditions were undertaken. In a few months I was handling 11 large fragments and numerous minor pieces.