Ellen Knudson “Cardinal/Ordinal”

Artist Statement

Cardinal/Ordinal is an artists book that addresses the language of and the problem with maps. I adore maps. I am endlessly attracted to their visual appeal and to the intricate work that has gone into their graphic complexities, beautiful topographical renderings, and typographical finesse. Yet I am cognizant of the centuries of damage done to the native peoples of this world. Maps are a haunting and relentless record of that pain. In my research for this book, I encountered the pervasive use of ruling class white men's names in places that in reality do not belong to human beings at all. There is also an inordinate amount of hateful and racist place names that are still present on printed maps. My approach to the system of maps is an exploration of the subconscious ways that we experience maps. On each of the thirty pages of the book, I apply the phrase "A Map is ____" to initiate unique ways of considering our interactions with maps and with one another in the places we call home.

Cardinal/Ordinal is the “conceptual cousin” to the artists book Ingress/Egress from 2016. That book uses the phrase "A Book is ____" to encourage exploration around the physical, conceptual, and environmental nature of artists books. Visually inspired by historical works such as World Geo-Graphic Atlas by Herbert Bayer, and the work of Edward Tufte, Cardinal/Ordinal makes a similar connection with maps. Cardinal/Ordinal is letterpress printed from photo-polymer plates on translucent mulberry "teabag" paper. Each page is tabbed with red Mitsumata paper. Referencing the flexibility of a road atlas, the book is hand-bound in a Japanese stab binding and housed in a four-sided case enclosure. 15.5” x 13.5” x 1/2”. Written, designed, and printed by Ellen Knudson / Crooked Letter Press in Gainesville, Florida. 2026. 30 pages. Edition of 40. Signed by the artist.

ellen knudson

Florida, USA
https://crookedletterpress.com/

Cardinal/Ordinal
2026

Letterpress printed artist's book, printed on mulberry teabag paper, Japanese stab binding, housed in a four-sided case enclosure

15.5"H x 13.5"W x 0.5"D

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