This book reminds me of something Martin Parr would’ve done when he assembled the Real Food book. It slapped traditional ideas in the face; this book does too. It’s none other than Thomas Sauvin’s UNTIL DEATH DO US PART. This book challenges the idea of what a photo book should be in so many different ways. I’m writing this review as I’m currently trying to put together an album of prints that I’ve made over the past year — a physical album, to be more exact. And it’s books like this that remind me how important the interactivity of photography really is.
UNTIL DEATH DO US PART is a fascinating photography book. It starts off in a cigarette case. Then, you have to carefully open that up to slip out the book. The book itself has cigarettes printed on the cover — but you don’t get the smell of menthols when you try to pop them out. You also get the feeling that the inside of the cigarette case also has gold foil inside — which is evident by the edges of the pages. Open the book up, and you’ll see individual images of a cigarette ceremony at a Chinese wedding. The images are often split down the middle. Typically, I’d bemoan this. But in this case, I’m embracing it as part of the experience. The photos aren’t really high art, but they’re seemingly snapshots done at weddings.
In fact, the UNTIL DEATH DO US PART is made with found photographs — which adds even more complexity and character to the whole thing. The whole thing is a playful take on the idea that cigarettes are surrounded in death while marriage is the celebration of a new life together.
The book challenges our idea of what a photobook should and can be. Books don’t need to be shaped a specific way, have a specific set amount of photos, or even have traditional packaging. I abhor using the word interesting because it doesn’t do justice to what this book is. Instead, that word lumps it into so many other things. I’d prefer to call this book mentally stimulating and fascinating.
What’s more, this book can be deceptively priced. I’ve known about this book for years. But after reading about it on Aperture, I searched the web. An eBay listing had it for $170. But on Olio Arts, I found it for $40. There’s surely something to say about the curious pricing and tactics the second-hand market uses. Is it worth only $40? I honestly would say it’s higher because of how unique it is. Though I’m really not sure about $170.
UNTIL DEATH DO US PART isn’t important because it’s got rare and important photographs. Instead, it’s so incredibly important because it challenges our views on mixed media and what a photo book should be. And the truth is that it’s all up to the imagination of the photographer. I mean, why can’t we have a pop-up book similar to what we used to see as kids? Or why couldn’t it be iridescent? The truth is that we’re only holding ourselves back.
UNTIL DEATH DO US PART receives five out of five stars. It’s something that makes photographers think a lot harder about what their photobooks can and should be.