Books

Over the course of Level 5 I have been engaging with various fiction and non fiction books. The benefits of this come with expanding your imagination as well as knowledge. I find the patience and seclusion that comes with reading a really important aspect to maintaining a clear and level mind. With the fast paste nature of the internet and that impacting on our shortened attention spans, I find reading allows me to train my ability to sit down and concentrate on one thing. 

The books I read this year vary drastically however all have strong messages that I have kept with me and used within my practice and for self-development. This summer I hope to read (on top of my COP preparation) War and Peace, 1984 and The Doors of Perception, as a result of them being referenced within my research into certain projects this year.   

*Into The Wild  - Jon Krakauer 

*Siddhartha - Herman Hesse

*The Psychopath Test - Jon Ronson

*A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess

*The Beach - Alex Garland

*The Good Immigrant - collection of authors, edited by Nikesh Shukla 

*Drunk Folk Stories - Beans on Toast

From a more design perspective I have also engaged with various artistic books, as a result of certain modules focusing on publication design. Learning about the paper stocks, book binding methods as well as physical applications that can aid the translation of a book (e.g. UV paper, foiling, embossing and so on) has made me engage a lot more with this style of publication. Being aware of the design process and having a greater insight into the world of aesthetics, I have found visiting village book store in Leeds central to be a monthly occurrence. Supporting small companies like this is important for building the community and scope of availability of gems like this. 

Previously I bought books about artists or exhibitions I enjoyed, however now I look for fun and quirky alternative publications that play on design being a smile in the mind. I am also into alternative colour books, and find them very therapeutic when I am stressed or have creative block. 

There's something about finding an image or layout in a physical publication or book that you can't get online through a screen. There is a much higher sense of appreciation for that piece of work when you've physically selected it out of many pages in a tangible book, that you have to carry and hold. In this way, I find having art books can really help to oncemore relieve creative block. 

 

Background of Village book store:

• started in the corn exchange
• 5th birthday 
• small shop where people could come and engage from around the world
• bring stuff from outside the city into the city - great artist and publishers - New York / Tokyo 
• provide a space where people can get exposure for what they're doing on a playing field - compete with london etc - expand the creative community in leeds and keep young creatives from moving further afield
• non-profit gallery space to be used
• collaboration with the artists exhibiting - opportunity to showcase and for people to get exposure with their art