Charles Hobson

Diderot Decaptioned , 2013

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13 x 9.5 x 1.5 in

Diderot Decaptioned is a series of ten vovelles contained in a box covered with the image of the spines of the Diderot Encyclopédie which was published in Paris between 1750 and 1770. It was innovative in describing and depicting with 3000 engravings many mechanical processes that were to transform the world. A vovelle is a paper disk attached behind a cover page so that the disk can be rotated to reveal alternative pieces of information on the cover page. Each vovelle shows a high resolution digital print of an engraving from the Encyclopédie chosen because of its puzzling and curious quality to our 21st century eyes. The disk of the vovelle can be rotated to show five different captions for the image including the original 18th century French along with four other captions which use humor and contemporary culture to offer an alternative to the original meaning. Each vovelle has pinholes in the upper corner, an invitation to mount several together on a wall with pushpins allowing an audience to interact with them, a design inspired by the title of the CBAA exhibition focusing on presentation and installation. Diderot Decaptioned contains a short essay on the Encyclopédie and a folder containing the vovelles. It has been made as an edition of 12 copies in the winter of 2013-14. The book measures 13 x 9.5 x 1.5 inches and has been designed and assembled by Charles Hobson with the assistance of Alice Shaw.

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