Chlepa Codex is a project of an artistic duo called Chlepa that consists of me and Anna Chlebowska.
It's a series of nine artists’ books in the form of boxes containing a set of prints and illustrations telling a story about the synergy of two people working together, finding their space and their very own visual language.
Chlepa Codex is inspired by relics of history such as mysterious manuscripts that were never deciphered (Voynich Manuscript, Rohonc Codex) and the traditions of an experimental approach to the idea of a language that was characteristic of surrealists and artistic avant-garde.
We decided to make our project a take on visual language, rejecting the informative role of writing and speech.
The project consists of nine 22x22 cm handmade boxes. 3 boxes contain Ania’s linocut and etching prints, another 3 – my illustrations digitally printed on 21x105 cm sheets of paper folded into leporellos, and the last 3 contain juxtaposed works of us both in the form of intaglio prints.
The form of the boxes with small windows to peek through resembles reliquary containers – another detail inspired by the aesthetics of old manuscripts and relics. The boxes’ colour scheme – pink and blue intertwining also symbolizes us both as artists working together.
Illustrated stories, although half-abstract and purely visual, are consistent narratives. They bring up motifs of teamwork, synergy, a sense of looking for own space, and its ups and downs.
Chlepa Codex is a set of artists’ books, and as books – they are meant to be opened, touched, and looked into.
Each viewer can experience its content and interpret it in their own way.
portraits and exhibition details shot by Diana-Elena Păun
Chlepa Codex was created during Fresh A.I.R. artist-in-residence program funded by Stiftung Berliner Leben and Urban Nation museum and is a part of Linguistic Xpedition exhibition held in Urban Nation project space at Bülowstraße 97, Berlin, Germany.
> to see our Fresh A.I.R. artist profile, click here
