Art aficionados and book lovers unite! Artist Ekaterina Panikanova’s creations on books bring the history and lives of their readers in to your home. The accomplished fine artist continues their story by embracing the volumes’ wear and tear. Book owners’ personalities are revealed in their notes, underlines, and dog-eared pages. It is here that she begins her paintings on the books perhaps illustrating the reader, the story, or her personal interpretation.
Collaboration with Rick Vintage, owner of NLXL, created a unique product in both its accessibility and artistry. The Biblioteca Wallpaper Collection is comprised of seven designs, five of which are murals and two are wallpaper rolls. Each is printed on a layer of heavy-duty paper, recalling the heft and tactile qualities of the antique volumes. A non-woven backing adds to their durability. Unlike their source, the new works are colorfast and washable, preserving them in this particular moment in time.
The three-dimensional works have been painstakingly recreated on the wall covering. This depth and accuracy validates the fantasy paintings. The white central panel features a relaxed and cross-legged gentleman with an in-flight duck head and another at his feet. Every detail is revealed in this version in the open pages of the books. My favorite is the black collection. The majority of the books are hidden beneath black covers, heightening our curiosity. Washed paintings of a fawn, a chandelier, and a hand gently opening a door appear like images from a dream, or a story.
Design: Ekaterina Panikanova
Photography courtesy of NLXL
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