The structure of Paradoxic Mutations, though bound by only two staples, consists of an elaborate set of folded pages that open individually to reveal the darker side of virtues such as Unity, Joy, and Freedom. The inverse of Knowledge, for example, is Learned Ignorance. A second set of folded pages deals with the human body, infection, and the implications of technologically-driven medicine.
The book is lavishly illustrated throughout with a continuous collage of found material, including anatomical engravings, medical photographs, and images of historical sculptures and other artwork from around the world, dealing mostly with science and the body.
Lovejoy’s work paints a gruesome but fascinating portrait of our physical relationship to a set of abstract values, commenting on the dangerous potential consequences of our attitudes regarding body and mind.
