"Through Art They are Given Life"

Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay 

To mould me man? Did I solicit thee 

 From darkness to promote me? 

John Milton, Paradise Lost 

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Set of three interactive books which display characteristics of living organisms when touched and held. The texts are derived from various examples of early cyborg literature and are concerned with a human ability and yearning to bestow life upon inanimate objects and the inevitable danger of man's desire to promote himself to the role of Creator.

Frankenstein. 2011. Mechanical compontents controlled by an Arduino microcontroller generate a 'heartbeat' eminating from the centre of the book. 

The page displays an excerpt from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, in which Dr. Frankenstein reveals his desperate desire to not only generate life but also foster a patriarchal relationship with his progeny in which they would bless and shower him with gratitude for bringing them into being.

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The Golem of Prague. 2011. Mechanical components controlled by an Arduino microcontroller allow the book to 'breath'. 

 The text is an English translation of The Golem of Prague; a Jewish myth in which two rabbis mould and bestow life on a clay form, creating a miniature human-like creature or golem. 

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 The third book in the series, De Generatione Rerum Naturalium (2011), trembles or 'purrs' when held. The text reads:

"Since things are possible and must appear in nature through God's order, who would deny them about through the clever abilites of the art of alchemy and make the unfruitful fruitful, the untimely timely, and drive all things to grow. Through art they are given life, through art they are given body, flesh, bones and blood. Through art they are born, and therefore art is incorporated and intrisic to them and they need to learn it from no one. Because through art they came into being and grew up like a rose or flower in the garden and cannot be compared with humans but with spirits." De Generatione Rerum Naturalium