Jan-Micha Gamer
Gamer’s design plays on words, merging the signifier and mea- ning in “bookshelf”. The unique technique, using only bookbin- ding glue, ensures full recyclability and aligns with sustai- nability. Destroying books can be hard to accept: this solution softens and ennobles the separation.
I’m a Berlin-based artist and designer passionate about sustainability and circularity. My work turns everyday materials into art, exploring their origins and roles in our globalized world. From sculptures to func- tional design, I create pieces that make something new without exploiting natural resources—transforming waste into value. I hold a BA in Product Design from HfG Schwäbisch Gmünd and an MA in Social Design from Design Acad- emy Eindhoven. Beyond art, I collaborate with companies on closing material loops and teach about sustainability, upcycling, and the circular economy.
Used material, technique, support:
15 hard-cover books, cut in various angles and connected with a spe- cially developed technique using only bookbinder-glue to maintain full recyclability.
Artwork Description:
For me, books have an aura that fills rooms with intellect, passion, and adventure – this aura is the essence of ‘shelf 9 3/4’. The sculp- tural shelf is made from 15 books, which are joined together using a specially developed technique. No other materials were incorporat- ed, and only bookbinding glue was used to maintain recyclability. The shelf has a curved shape that breaks with the hard rectangular form of books and thus focuses on their materiality and colours. Each book in ‘shelf 9 3/4’ contributes to a new narrative that extends beyond its individual content, reminding us of the millions of discarded books each year.
