{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1803201"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1803201/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PF6524/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PF6524/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2025PF6524","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1803201","accessionNumber":"38041025005448","objectType":"Book","titles":[{"title":"Fossil oil: a book of hours","type":"published title"}],"summaryDescription":"Fossil oil: a book of hours is an artist’s book that uses both structure and text to convey an important message. Books of hours were prayer books primarily intended for the laity and particularly popular in the late Middle Ages across Europe. The devotions they contained were meant to be said at different hours of the day, from Matins to Compline. Olsen has named each section of her text after these ‘hours’, but instead of prayers, it consists of a series of reflections on the fossil fuel era. The poems explore our reliance on this industry and the climate crisis we are facing as a result. \n\r\nThe binding references medieval girdle books, an invention that turned books into fashionable accessories popular among members of the nobility and the clergy between the 13th and 16th centuries. Just like Olsen’s recreation, a traditional girdle book featured a long, tapered tail with a large knot on the end to be tucked into the belt so that the book, often of a religious nature, could be carried easily and read while on the move. The materials that Olsen has used are also important to the narrative of the piece. The book is bound in deadstock fabrics, highlighting the importance of preventing waste in our increasingly single-use economy. The material looks like leather but is in fact a PVC leatherette, itself a by-product of the petroleum industry. It is designed to be grotesque and tactile, conjuring images of oil spills and pollution. \n\r\nRedell Olsen is a writer and visual artist working with different media including film, performance and book art. She is interested in environmental issues and sustainability and channels these themes in her work.","physicalDescription":"A mixed media artist's book containing type writer text, rubber stamps, water-based printing inks, acrylic and oil based paints. The book is held in a long leatherette fabric sleeve in the style of a girdle book.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"},{"text":"acrylic paint","id":"AAT15058"},{"text":"oil paint","id":"AAT15050"},{"text":"leatherette","id":"x30326"}],"techniques":[{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"National Art Library","id":"THES271541"},{"text":"Artists' books","id":"THES261563"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"NAL","id":"THES48605"},"images":["2025PF6524"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"NAL","id":"THES251738"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Book","id":"AAT28051"}],[{"text":"Artist's book","id":"AAT123016"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"UK","id":"x29336"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2024","earliest":"2024-01-01","latest":"2024-12-31"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"120","unit":"mm","qualifier":"Closed","date":{"text":"10/03/2026","earliest":"2026-03-10","latest":"2026-03-10"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"210","unit":"mm","qualifier":"Closed","date":{"text":"10/03/2026","earliest":"2026-03-10","latest":"2026-03-10"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"530","unit":"mm","qualifier":"Closed","date":{"text":"10/03/2026","earliest":"2026-03-10","latest":"2026-03-10"},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased from artist in 2025.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Artist's book, Fossil oil: a book of hours by Redell Olsen, UK: the artist, 2024.\r","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"<b>New Acquisitions for the National Art Library</b><br>\r\nThe National Art Library is the UK’s leading library of art and design, open to everyone. Its holdings, a million strong, support research on art and design, and also include examples of the art and design of the book. From illuminated medieval manuscripts to contemporary comics, our continually developing collections reflect the V&A’s mission to champion creativity. This selection of recent acquisitions gives a glimpse of the range and diversity of current collecting.","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["38041025005448"],"accessionNumberNum":"38041025005448","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-10","recordCreationDate":"2025-04-30","availableToBook":false}}