Are Art Books addictive? I think so! Part 1.
Everyone has a vice. For some it's cocktails. For others its cigarettes. For me its the irresistible pull of a new book. Specifically really beautiful Art books.
I've mentioned in a previous post that I have a bit of a problem when it comes to collecting Art books. I lost count a long time ago of just how many books I own. I've got three bookshelves in my living room full of Art books and reference books. And they're just the ones that have made the cut, I've got others that live under the bed and in the attic, plus the additional fictional books that also reside under the bed. Come to think of it I've also got three piles of books in front of me now, sat on the dining table* and on the chairs surrounding it.
*[read: place to store Art books, Art materials and a work space, it hasn't been used for its original purpose in a while]
Whilst I love the internet for its wealth of knowledge and the opportunity of connectivity it affords, I feel you just can't beat a good book. I love the physicality of perusing the shelves, selecting a tome and getting comfortable in a big pile of cushions to indulge in its pages*
*This feeling probably explains why I love a particular work of fiction by the Author Walter Moers, "A City of Dreaming Books". An adventure for Logophiles and Bibliophiles alike.
Owning these books has a massive benefit for me personally as I have an atrocious memory. No exaggeration, I struggle to remember everything. I'm one of those people that walks into a room and has no idea why they're there. I've forgotten my PIN and never remembered it again - on three separate occasions. I've been on holidays according to my family that I have no recollection of. My memory issue has resulted in me becoming an avid list maker and avid book buyer.
Before Pinterest the only way I'd remember an Artist was to fill sketchbook pages about them or buy a book about them straight away, jotting their name down before heading to the local bookshop. Now my walls are a living Pinterest board. Oddly, a quirk of my ridiculously bad memory is an ability to remember the cover of every book in my collection. I might not remember the title but I know the colour ad size of each individual book hence ... my books are sorted by colour. It's great for finding my books quickly and, bonus, it looks so pretty!
The Risk of Buying Books Online
Since I discovered the glory of online shopping and the Amazon wish list I have found myself buying more Art books than ever, however, one of my major bugbears about buying Art books online is the risk. You research, find an Art book with good reviews, add to basket and click buy. You wait for what is surely going to be an incredible new resource ... and its a dud.
So, I'd thought I'd try to save you this pain, and share with you some Art books that I feel are worth purchasing.
In no particular order .....
Creative Block by Danielle Krysa. (a.k.a. The Jealous Curator)
In this book Krysa interviews Artists from across the glob about their practice and ask their advice to other creatives about how to overcome creative block*
*Super clever title, I love it!
The Jealous Curator is seriously talented when it comes to spotting talent. The talent pool within the book is diverse and inspiring across the board.
The balance between writing and images is just right so the read gets a well rounded view of each Artist. I'd recommend this book to anybody who enjoys discovering new Artists, but I'd particularly recommend it to those of us that question our own abilities and creative practice. Krysa shows the reader, through her interviews, that even the successful, accomplished Artists doubt themselves and that this feeling can be overcome.
Fresh Fruits by Shoichi Aoki
Ok, context time. When I was studying for the my A-Levels I became a little bit, majorly obsessed with Japanese Culture. It's not a passion that's ever really gone away but it has since toned down to normal admiration levels. A part of Japanese culture I really enjoy is the youth styles of Harajuku.
Fresh Fruits is a collection of the best and, literally, brightest styles taken from the street fashion magazine, 'Fruits'. Photographer Shoichi Aoki documented the incredibly creative fashions of young people in the Harajuku district of Tokyo, Japan. This book is all about fun and self-expression. Each style is unique, drawing on inspiration from subcultures such as Lolita, traditional Japanese dress, Mori and Gyaru to name a few. Whether you're interested in fashion, colour or subcultures, this book is fantastic and engrossing resource.
Handmade Living by Lotta Jansdotter.
A lifestyle book that's a little bit different to my other Art books, Handmade Living invites the reader into the home and work space of Lotta Jansdotter. In this book she gives you a taste of Scandinavian living* with little project ideas and a view as to what inspires Jansdotter as an Artist.
Her work is simple and fresh, taking inspiration from geometric pattern and nature. I love her muted colours and unfussy style that reflects the Nordic concept of Hygge.
*Bonus: Scandinavian recipes in the back, yum!
Wildermann: The Image of the Savage by Charles Freger.
This is one of those books that sat on my Amazon wishlist for what felt like a lifetime. I discovered it just as it became out of stock, the result of which was private sellers peddling copies at £60 or more! Now, as a frugal person, I could never justify paying that amount so I laid in wait until that one fantastic day it came back into stock at its RRP and I jumped on it.
Wildermann is a collection of photographers documenting traditional ritual/folk dress from across Europe. As a person that's interested in ritual and myth I love studying the costumes these cultures have created. They're unnerving and powerful, holding an integrity that makes them that more impactful. Think M Night Shyamalan's 'The Village' and you'll get an idea of the costumes documented. If you're a person that loves Nick Cave's soundsuits then I'm sure you'll love Wildermann.
Pop back to the website soon for part 2 of this post!
What are your favourite Art books? Share your recommendations in the comment section below:
