Leanne Bell

De revolutionibus orbium coelestium
Copernicus, Nicolas

Language codes: lat
See also: 52.092:094
Personal Author: Copernicus, Nicolas
Title: De revolutionibus orbium coelestium
Publication info: Nuremberg : Johannes Petreius, 1543
Physical descrip: 196p : ill, diagrams
Medium: HB
General Note: signed on the title page
General Note: Airy Library Collection
Acquisitions source: Airy Collection
Binding: 28cm, 20cm, 5cm

© National Maritime Museum, London

In 1543, the Polish astronomer Nicolas Copernicus published the book 'On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres', in which he positioned the sun at the centre of our solar system, contesting the belief systems of the time that put the earth at the centre, with the sun, moon, planets and stars all rotating around it. In 2007, Leanne Bell requested to view the book in the Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. When the book was brought out from storage it was encased in a box with conservation notes which detailed the history of its care. This book about the source of light on earth was positioned in the light of the library on a desk by a window. After one minute in the light, each page was turned and photographed in sequence.

Statement

The sun has a diameter of 865,200 miles.
If you imagine that the sun is not 865,200 miles in diameter but roughly the size of a tennis ball, earth is approximately the size of a pinhead and this pinhead would be 12 metres away from the tennis ball sun. Jupiter is the size of a green pea about a football pitch away and another 3 and a half football fields away is Pluto, a spec of dust.

The earth orbits the sun in such a way light will never fall on an object in the same way twice. Perhaps this is an obvious statement to make but light has the ability to transform the mundane in to the magical. Within my practice I am concerned with exploring and juxtaposing my own emotional responses to the light in my immediate environment with contemporary and historical thought (philosophical/scientific) on its nature and origin.

In recent works I have digitally recorded and re-presented the phenomena of light through utilising the book structure (sometimes physical, sometimes metaphorical). Through engaging with the qualities inherent to the book form: page, order, sequence, and through these, contained duration; I draw attention to specific moments in time and space.

Biography

A recent graduate of the MA Book Art course at Camberwell College of Arts, London, Leanne Bell’s practice encompasses photography, video, installation and books.

Coming from a graphic design background she has extensive experience of producing printed matter and has worked as an artist facilitator on a number of projects in educational and community settings.

Exhibitions:

2007

MA Book Art Final exhibition, Camberwell College of Art, London UK

Picasso’s Laboratory, St. James Cavalier, Valletta, Malta

10th International Contemporary Artists’ Book Fair, University of Leeds UK

2006

LAB ‘06 (London Artists Book Fair), Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), London UK

The Space between the Sole and the Heel, Collective Gallery, Edinburgh, UK

2004

Practice, High Bridge, Newcastle Upon Tyne UK

We Are Transparent, Waygood Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne UK

2003

The Dossier Waygood Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne UK