Art and Design -- Part 2
Circada Books
Hidden Museum
Shaun Parr
Museum can be spiritual places.
They certainly are for me.
A place where I can lose my head, going from void to void to be filled.
There is obviously an array of museums with their own specializations and if we go back in time, say, roundabout four hundred years, collections were curated according to, how shall we put it, more eclectic and subjective criteria across a wide range of disciplines, e.g. anthropology, natural history, religion and everything in between.
Those collections were more cabinets of curiosity, also known as “Wunderkammern”, than “museums” by contemporary standards and this little book is dedicated to those wondrous phenomena, shedding light on specimen, samples from the realm of geography and history with an added twist:
They are portrayed in manners, which reveal a secret about their evolution or historical context.
The thoughtful gimmick the book comes equipped with is a little red magnifying glass that can be used to unveil illustrations hidden within taxidermic and scientific illustrations, which would normally remain hidden to the human eye, offering insight into a secret world.
Atlas of The Human Body
Kanitta Meechubot
According to Sigmund Freud, anatomy is destiny.
Honore de Balzac took it a tad further in his usual non-chalant manner and claimed that no man should marry a woman without having studied anatomy or even having dissected one. He would have loved Kanitta Meechubot’s book.
The beautifully illustrated large format book takes you on a curated journey through your bodily vessel in more than a literal way.
With a lot of attention to detail and with the employment of pencils with Kanitta Meechubot at the helm of the operation, we discover the human shell in all its different layers, which offers a unique perspective on something we all perceive to have seen a million times before.
What makes the book both interesting and endearing is the fact that despite the expertise that went into its creation, there is a childlike simple approach to it, which, along with the minimalism the design is informed by, makes it a book to be treasured and a nice addition to any eclectic library.
The Road Cyclist's Companion
Peter Drinkell
Guess you could call me a bike enthusiast.
Yup, I do think there is something borderline romantic about bikes – they are both things of beauty and utility.
Needless to say that The Road Cyclist’s Companion is right up my alley:
Despite not using my bike for racing but for the daily commute, once you do it on a regular basis you discover that there is quite a bit of etiquette and form to it.
Even if you are not a hardcore cyclist, it is interesting to learn not only fun- but also more serious facts about cycling in pacelines, techniques, training and the components comprising the kit every cyclist should own, et cetera.
A clear and accessible guidebook, richly illustrated with both illustrations and photographic evidence.
Peter Drinkell is also the man behind The Bike Owner's Handbook.
Whereas the previous title takes a holistic approach towards biking in general, The Bike Owner’s Handbook is more of a useful, distinct manual for bike maintenance, upkeep and repairs that might be needed.
Peter Drinkell explains in detail and in a way that speaks to both the professional as well as the newbie about the essentials of adjustments, repairs and anything that can be done to your two-wheeled vehicle.
Even if you perceive yourself as a luminary that knows all there is to know about your bike, it is interesting to see how Drinkell’s holistic approach illuminates how the individual components work together and which parts can have a seemingly unrelated impact on others.
More information on Circada can be found on their website.
For more, read Art and Design – Thames and Hudson special (Part 1).
