Thirteen etchings based on a collection of mysterious objects are counterposed with fifteen quotations about various Hollow Earth theories by writers, scientists, and researchers.
The etchings can be seen as illustrations of the text fragments that overlay them. The objects sometimes seem organic, sometimes technical—they could be plants, minerals, or life forms; it is hard to determine which. All thirteen etchings came from photograms of objects belonging to a passionate collector, as yet uncatalogued and of unknown value. It is left to the viewer’s imagination to categorize and evaluate them.
Each of the thirteen etchings is paired with a text fragment about the various constructs of the Hollow Earth theory, written between 1741 and 2007.
Based on the ideas in these Hollow Earth theories, according to which the interior of the Earth can be reached through the polar caps or the concave side of the globe is inhabited, the book’s cover is designed as an object that is wrapped around it, “inside out.”
In the middle of the book—or at the start, or the end, depending on your perspective—is Walter Benjamin’s essay “Zum Planetarium,” both in the German original and the English translation (“To the Planetarium”).
The book can also be viewed as an object. It is stored in a tricolor linen-covered box with an acrylic pane and title label evocative of a display case from a natural history museum or a cabinet of curiosities. Because of the slatted cover, the book can be placed in the box in such a way that the observer has a partial view of the book’s mysterious interior.
Concept, design, printing and binding: Veronika Schäpers & Didier Mutel
Various textfragments from literature, history and science that relate to hollow earth theories.
–––––––
Thirteen etchings from polymer plates based on b/w photograms on handcoated paper, printed on Binsen mitsumata paper at the Atelier Mutel in Orchamps.
Text printed letterpress from polymer plates on Toshaban ganpi paper.
Hinge paper binding made of black kozo and ganpi paper, partially coated with aluminium leaf.
Printing and Binding by Veronika Schäpers.
–––––––
Edition of 36 copies with consecutive Arabic numerals and 8 copies with consecutive Roman numerals
–––––––
Karlsruhe & Orchamps, 2026