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ALTERNATIVES IN PRINT: A MAGAZINE

kvr — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:08:08 +0000

Not so dissimilar in approach to our own little print adventure, A Magazine is actually a jewel among a flux of fashion magazines that tend to all look the same, and how come there are so many of them anyway? A Magazine, however, have a unique way of looking behind the scenes of fashion by inviting one designer to guest-curate each issue in its entirety. Originally published by the fashion institute of Belgium, it is a great way of presenting the universe of each designer in a very personal and unfiltered manner.

While the magazine has lost a little of its experimental edge of earlier issues – my personal favourite being curated by Viktor & Rolf, who cheekily compiled their press clippings of reviews and editorials to make up for the entire issue – it is still a beautifully produced bi-annual title with a strong and focused concept. The current issue is dedicated to über-hip Los Angeles label Rodarte by the Mulleavy sisters, who in turn dedicated it to their vision of California – featuring a great interview with John Baldessari, editorials with Kirsten Dunst and Ellen Fanning and, erm, grizzly bears.

ARCHIZINO MILANO

kvr — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:26:15 +0000

The idea of a traveling magazine library might not be new, but there are few who pursue this with such vigour as Elias Redstone with his Archizines collection, gathering a rather excellent selection of printed matter on architecture. Previously on display at the Architectural Association and now in the permanent collection at the library of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Archizines are kicking off their world tour tonight in Milan at the SpazioFMGperl’Architettura.

Archizines in Milan
27 January – 23 February 2012

SpazioFMG
Via Bergognone 27
Milan

ALTERNATIVES IN PRINT: LITTLE WHITE LIES

uk — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:36:44 +0000

One of my favourite magazines out there at the moment is the UK based film magazine Little White Lies which has been around since 2005. Each issue of Little White Lies is themed around a single cover film, inspiring the design and editorial content of the entire issue.

On the cover they always feature an illustration of the lead actor of its cover film. The cover film also influences interior aspects, such as editorial icons, chapter headings and custom typefaces. However, the overall template of the magazine remains the same. The current issue is about Steve McQueen’s Shame. Their system of evaluation stands out from other magazines with the categories “Anticipation”, “Enjoyment” and “In Retrospect” really getting the gist across. In Berlin you can get it at Do you read me?! and via subscription.

RADIO TIMES

kvr — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:26:28 +0000

Think whatever you may about Tyler Brulé’s stunningly successful imprint Monocle – in terms of building a magazine as a brand with an integrated design agency and a whole roster of commercial collaborations under its belt, it’s become a prime example how it’s possible to combine a quality title with a commercial enterprise and still maintain a healthy balance between financial success and editorial integrity.

Part of this is certainly due to a charming obsession with particular slightly outmoded ideas, such as radio – a quirk leading to the introduction of a 24h radio station at the end of last year, which actually has some programs well worth following. For instance, why not tune in this Saturday at noon, when magCulture’s Jeremy Leslie will be talking about Slow Print and mono.kultur, among many other titles.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

kvr — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:21:53 +0000

There is a beautiful kind of manifesto in the first pages of the current issue of 032c, summing up their thoughts and ideas from over a decade of magazine-making, in the usual slightly heady style of 032c, of course. But it’s always refreshing when someone takes a stand, and a beautiful one at that.

And not to forget: a small exhibition by über-hip fashion photographer Alasdair McLellan opening at 032c headquarters on Brunnenstrasse 11 tomorrow night.

Photography: Stop Hiding by Mike Mills & Todd Cole

STORE OF THE MONTH: FAMILY / LOS ANGELES

kvr — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:05:32 +0000

Since we have that arch-American of all genres – comics, as exemplified by Chris Ware – on our cover these days, we thought we should introduce one of our first and most loyal stores in the US this month, with the nice name of Family, which is the place to go to if you’re after high-quality art books or low-quality zines, which, of course, are very much part of the LA skate and punk culture. Family bridge the gap between high and low with that Californian insouciance, translating into a relaxed, ‘Who cares? As long as it’s good…’ And really, why should one worry too much about these things when the sun is shining and the beach is nearby? Sigh.

Family
436 N. Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
USA

PS. No, the image above is not the actual Family we are talking about – since we couldn’t find a proper interior shot, and this was one of the first images to come up when looking for ‘Family Los Angeles’, we thought, ‘Who cares? As long as it’s nice…’

PROTESTER 2.0

mc — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 11:18:25 +0000

2011 was the year of resistance. After revolutionary movements and occupy waves, it is the protester the Time magazine declares as the person of the year. The accompanying essay by Kurt Anderson gives an interesting insight.

MONO.PUNKT #14: WHAT WE MAKE WITH WORDS

kvr — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:10:26 +0000

This nice exhibition around words – aptly subtitled What We Make With Words – has been going on at Glasgow’s venerable Centre for Contemporary Art for almost two weeks now, but what’s really exciting to us is the adjoining art book fair taking place this Saturday, including yours truly, live and in the flesh. Because we are so ready to get out of here, from the rain and the cold, because Glasgow, as we know, is nothing like that, not at all. Sunshine, here we come.

2HB: What We Make With Words
Book Fair
Saturday 17 December 2011 / 12–17h
CCA
350 Sauchiehall Street
Glasgow G2 3JD
UK

STORE OF THE MONTH: BANANAFISH BOOKS / DALIAN

kvr — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:24:29 +0000

Anyone who has ever been to China will have experienced how difficult it is to get foreign magazines there, let alone any magazines that are worth the paper they are printed on. This is mainly due to the fact that the distribution of printed matter is still overseen by the Ministry for Communication, and importing foreign titles is not an easy task, involving plenty of paperwork.

And so we are so pleased that our friends at Bananafish Books have expanded their online store to an actual physical location in the northeastern port town of Dalian, stocking an immaculate range of independent titles, including some of the finest that Europe, Asia and the Americas have to offer. It’s the first venture of its kind in China, and we can’t wait to see more of similar places pop up over the country.

Bananafish Books, in the meantime, have also started their own suitably named publishing imprint called A Perfect Book, and are even offering the services of their Riso printer for artists and designers to produce their own titles. Just like home – except it isn’t.

Bananafish Books
53-1, Wenhua Street
Zhongshan District
Dalian City
Liaoning Province
China

CHINESE WHISPERS 20

kvr — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 14:59:58 +0000

mono.kultur recommended over at the Huffington Post as one of eleven ‘amazing magazines you’ve never heard of’ – us being perfect for ‘culture junkies who want something fresh’, apparently. Sweetie pie.