The Tapestry originated during a time of deep reflection for Erik Madigan Heck, as the artist revisited earlier work through colour manipulation, cropping and layering. The book's design – created in close collaboration with Heck – weaves a visual narrative that traces not only the evolution of Heck's career but also the interconnections between landscape, fashion, still life and portraiture.
The book exists in two editions, each covered in cloth and featuring a new work by Heck on the cover. For the special edition, the cover is printed before being overlaid with intricate, two-tone embroidery and housed within a custom portfolio. Its distinctly tactile nature echoes that of Heck’s work. Inside, semi-translucent bible paper is used to divide the book’s image sections, in a nod to 19th-century artists’ books from which Heck drew inspiration for the project. These classical design references are also evident within the book’s typographic scheme which uses William, a modern interpretation of Caslon developed in the 18th century.
Photography: Ed Park
