Epic of Gilgamesh
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
Since November,15,2004 till June,20,2005 I had been discovering the traces of a lost text, worned out inscriptions, maps of unknown reference, drawings and schemes representing cities, itineraries, geometrical figures and algebraical expressions, astronomic observations and constellations’ outlines. These artifacts were classified into several books. Completely heterogeneous at first sight, further they all revealed common formal features, which unequivocally pointed the place of origin of messages they concealed. Surfaces uniformly speckled with signs, fragments of brickwork, austere monumental shapes and – as exact antithesis – intricate and tangled structures, labyrinths, which resemble convoluted intestines of sacrificed animals, celestial bodies’ trajectories, abundant ornaments – all of these spoke of the country of origin – the ancient Mesopotamia. The first deciphering results were overhelming – each peace told an Epic of Gilgamesh fragment! Further investigation and expeditions were undertaken. In a few months I handeled 11 large fragments and numerous minor pieces.
an archaeological section
the ziggurat of the book
the tablet of introduction
the first tablet of seduction
the second tablet of a twin
the third tablet of cities
the fourth tablet of dreams
the fifth tablet of a cedar thicket
the sixth tablet of the bull
the seventh tablet of fate
the eighth tablet of mourning
the ninth tablet of desert
the tenth tablet of death waters
the eleventh tablet of the flood
