David Sequeira

The book-ness of books

‘There are books of which the backs and front covers are by far the best parts' (Charles Dickens).

The book-ness of books examines the ways in which humans interact with the physical properties of books. Books are objects and the acts of reading, collecting, arranging and making books can be understood as functions of humans wanting to become one with these objects. Connected intimately with the symbolism of the book in art history, ‘The book-ness of books' highlights the unique role that books play in human experience and the ways in which these ideas are present in David's work.

David's work has been recognised nationally and internationally through a number of prestigious residencies and awards. These include the Australia Council studio residency in Paris; an Asialink residency in Pakistan; the University of Texas residency in Dallas; the Collex Museum of Contemporary Art Acquisitive Prize (inaugural winner); Curtin University artist in residence Perth, and the Jam Factory Glass studio artist in residence Adelaide. Important recent projects include a solo exhibition in New Delhi, India where he was born and a 10 year survey of his work at the John Curtin University Gallery, Perth.

David Sequeira is a visual artist, art/business consultant and freelance art museum educator based in Canberra.

Working in a range of media, David explores the notions of language and information through colour, geometry and everyday objects. A self-confessed hoarder, David collects books, vases, flower petals, leaves, orange domestic ware and plastic plates which all find their way into his practice. His interests include libraries, museums, flea markets and junk shops. David's work emerges from studies in art history, museums and education. Largely as a result of this type of art learning, he is not bound to any specific studio process. His work takes a variety of forms including painting, sculpture, sound, installation, printmaking, drawing, curatorship and performance. At the heart of each of these aspects of his work is a deep commitment to the limitless properties of colour, and the exploration of his relationship to art. He is currently a Doctoral candidate at RMIT University. The title of his project is ‘Some kind of bliss: colour, geometry and the everyday'.