Collage 678

We are so fortunate to have another contribution by our friend Matt Kish! As you may recall from the introduction to this whole endeavor, Matt's project was the inspiration for The War and Peace Project.

Here is the link to his fantastic blog. He also published a book called Moby Dick in Pictures: One Drawing for Every Page. I bought a copy and it is just too fabulous! Get your own copy! Become a Matt Kish fan! I also bought one of his collages from his Etsy store and proudly hangs in our kitchen where we can enjoy it every day. My husband Mark, our photographer, is crazy for Matt's work. -- Lola

When I think of Tolstoy, I think of the vast and sprawling legacy of Russian literature, and how these books and these ideas have changed the world on such a volatile and almost fundamental level. I began to think of books as machines, as things with moving parts capable of great effects. From there the pieces fell into place quickly... an image of a bearded man who reminded me of Tolstoy, an anatomically correct eye, a forest on fire, and Tolstoy (again) presenting his words... his thoughts... to a world hungry and ready for them. It's a chaotic mass, a jumble of images that the viewer can skate across alighting here or there before the flames burn too hot for comfort. -- Matt

Matt Kish
from page 611-612, volume 2 of original text
collage, ink
made 1/11/12
Pevear/Volokhonsky translation page 1110-1101