The work of Paul Sietsema (born 1968) might be described as a sequence of multimedia suites, each of which begins with a phase of intensive research into historical–political themes, and which results in a body of interrelated sculptures, photographs, drawings, collages and films that propose an “exploded” model of historical progress. In general, these suites, such as Empire (2003) and Figure 3 (2008), have been discussed and exhibited individually. This publication, by contrast, brings together major elements from projects of the past decade, along with new works, which are being facilitated by the support of a Wexner Center Artist Residency Award in visual arts. The publication, like the exhibition it accompanies, is the most comprehensive survey of Sietsema’s work to date. It includes his most recent sequence, Chinese Box, done through the support of the Wexner Artist Residency Award.
