Alexander D'Agostino

An Index of Fire
December 7 – 29, 2024

An Index of Fire examines the history and impact of book burnings, presenting images of historic and contemporary book burnings. These images are printed on textiles using cyanotype,and then reduced—or “bleached”—using ashes from water-damaged books Alexander burned. The work surveys the pervasive and alarming history of book burning, emphasizing its futility, particularly in the wake of the printing press. While burning books rarely stops the spread of knowledge, the act is far from inconsequential. As a stark warning, book burnings, censorship, and bans often signal a society descending into fascism, one that fears free thought and human curiosity.The exhibition reimagines the book as a talisman of perseverance, illustrating how even its ashes can become a medium for creating and transforming, turning flames into records of resistance.