CORY REYNOLDS | DATE 8/3/2017

A museum, a book and an object. Dayanita Singh: Museum Bhavan

“Museum of Vitrines,” “Printing Press Museum,” “Museum of Machines,” “Museum of Furniture,” “Ongoing Museum/Museum of Chance,” “Museum of Photography/Museum of the Departed,” “Godrej Museum/File Museum,” “Little Ladies Museum/Museum of Time” and “Museum of Men/Museum of Curiosities” are the nine accordion folded volumes—each only 3.5 inches wide by 5.5 inches tall—housed in the small clamshell case encapsulating photographer and bookmaker Dayanita Singh’s sublime Museum Bhavan. A tenth volume includes two transcribed conversations—one between Singh and publisher Gerhard Steidl, the other between Singh and curator, writer and editor, Aveek Sen. The artist considers each book a museum in and of itself: “The book is a book—a beautiful book—but also an object.” Featured image is from "Museum of Machines."