'I Wonder' is a gilt-edged new tome from Marian Bantjes, combining graphic art with her lesser-known skills as a writer. On its elaborately ornamented pages, the Wallpaper* contributor (and designer of a Laser sailboat for Wallpaper* Handmade, W*137) looks at the role of wonder in design and imagery, through an eccentric mix of musings, personal anecdotes and what she, herself, calls 'harebrained ideas'.
A chapter exploring how we honour things that resonate with us, illustrated by ornamental pasta, is swiftly followed by a look at the experience of the 'really ugly' signage in her home town of Saskatoon, Canada. These rich, playful and often funny pages are wrapped in an aptly indulgent, gold and silver foil cover.
Images from the 'Cemeteries' chapter, which serves as a pictorial interlude, wherein a view of cemetery portraits speak to the book's recurring themes of wonder, honour and memory, p.098 & 099
The 'Secrets' chapter pushes the limits of legibility and ultimately breaks those limits when it prints actual secrets in encoded text, p.112 & 113
The '1 Sign 4 All' chapter addresses the ugly signage on display in the author's home town of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, p.100 & 101
Pages from the 'Secrets' chapter use gold encoded text, p.116 & 117
In the 'Alphabet' chapter, Bantjes amusingly and profanely critiques the 'design' of the alphabet, commenting on the efforts and motives of a team of imaginary designers, p.122 &123
Graphics from the 'Alphabet' chapter, p.128 & 129
The 6-page chapter 'Assembling Two IKEA Bookshelves' shows the progress, frustrations, distractions and asides involved in spending an afternoon assembling two Ikea bookshelves, p.142 & 143
The chapter 'Memory 2: Notes on a Life' is based on the author's eulogy for her mother, as it examines a life as represented by the handwritten remains of hundreds of 'To Do' lists, p.174 & 175
-
Revolutionary Apple icon designer Susan Kare unveils a playful jewellery and objet collaboration with Asprey StudioAsprey Studio's new collection, Esc Keys, brings digital artworks by Susan Kare to life
-
What is the role of fragrance in contemporary culture, asks a new exhibition at 10 Corso ComoMilan concept store 10 Corso Como has partnered with London creative agency System Preferences to launch Olfactory Projections 01
-
Jack White's Third Man Records opens a Paris pop-upJack White's immaculately-branded record store will set up shop in the 9th arrondissement this weekend
-
'Moroseta Kitchen' is a new recipe book offering a glimpse into the Puglian countryside'Moroseta Kitchen - A Window Into The Puglian Countryside' by Giorgia Eugenia Goggi is based on the essence of eating in Italy, rooted in farm to table seasonal recipes
-
‘Bethlehem’ is a new recipe book celebrating Palestinian food‘Bethlehem: A Celebration of Palestinian Food’ is a recipe book by Fadi Kattan that celebrates culinary tradition and explores untold stories
-
René Redzepi, Mette Søberg and Junichi Takahashi on Noma’s new cookbookLifting the lid on Noma’s secrets, a new cookbook celebrates the pioneering restaurant’s season menus, and offers a deep dive behind the scenes
-
60-Second Cocktails book shakes up summer happy hour at homeThis 60-Second Cocktails book brings summer happy hour into your home with easy but sophisticated cocktail recipes and tips to guide even novice shakers
-
New cookbook transforms horror movies into terrifying food artHorror Caviar, the first cookbook from A24, features recipes inspired by horror movies, from creatives including Laila Gohar and Chloe Wise, alongside essays by Carmen Maria Machado, Stephanie LaCava, and more
-
Edible flowers: the how, the what and the whyA new book from Monacelli, Edible Flowers: How, Why, and When We Eat Flowers, uncovers a fascinating history
-
Match point: learn how to properly pair food and wineLearn a thing or two about fine cooking and wine selection with this new book from the London Club
-
Fragile Self’s multi-platform debut album is a fervent fusion of sound and visionThe designer behind David Bowie's album covers has released a multimedia album exploring the history of psychology and the definition of ‘normality'
