In this episode, British artist Benjamin Hannavy Cousen talks about how he converts books into visual artworks by mapping each colour mentioned in them with layers of acrylic paint applied with a syringe. He talks about how he creates “an archaeology of memory” and how his English Literature, History of Art and Cultural Memory studies have informed his work.

Accompanying images on consideringart.com

The Sea the Sea (History)by Iris Murdoch, aerial and detail

Storm of Steel by Ernst Jünger, aerial and detail

1984 by George Orwell, aerial and detail

All images are ©Benjamin Hannavy Cousen. Photos courtesy Prudence Cuming Associates

The Rings of Saturn & Other Objects exhibition is at Merville Galleries, 8 Duke St. St James’s, London SW1Y 6BN from 10 – 21 May 2022

You can see more of Benjamin Hannavy Cousen’s work on his website