— Unleash and expand your creativity with these 5 books.
For many years I've used books to inform my own studies, practice, and teaching. Books are a great resource to kick start those self-directed projects or mind blocks. I have been buying art and design books since I started my BA and have continued to do so, sharing my books with my students over the past 10 years.
Below is a list of five books that perhaps you wouldn’t find in most conventional reading lists or book shops, but each one I have thoroughly enjoyed reading (more than once) and using some part of its content to inform a project, idea or discussion.
1. Full Colour by Karel Martens
Funnily enough I came across this book whilst on the tube. A woman was sitting next to me and started flicking through the pages whilst making notes and sketches on a pad. I managed to grab a quick peak at the title and purchased it that night.
I was already aware of the work of Karel Martens, but this book that is essentially a photographic walk through his studio opened up all sorts of thoughts, ideas and potential opportunities. There is also a fantastic piece of text and small essay and the back that explores the idea of colour.
2. Mess by Keri Smith
This is one of a growing collection of journals and books from Keri smith, each one providing the reader with a whole host of idea generating subjects, self-starting projects and just pure simple tasks that open your imagination back up. The book itself is the perfect art project with the aim to complete every page. Ideal for any age and any level.
3. Here by Richard McGuire
This was recommended to me by one of my previous students and is essentially an illustrated graphic novel focusing on a corner of room recording all the events that took place in that space over the course of hundreds of thousands of years. Beautifully illustrated and hold to put down. I don’t think I will ever look at the corners of my living room in the same way.
3. Ex-formation by Kenya Hara
It is no secret that I am a huge advocate of the work of Kenya Hara and have used his writings on topics to inform so many projects whilst teaching. What I find particularly important with this book is the overarching concept of ‘ex-formation’ the idea of trying to make things unknown rather than known. Exploring a topic so in-depth that what was previously learnt is undone opens up huge opportunities for creativity.
5.Freeing Architecture by Jun’ya Ishigami
One of my more recent purchases, this book holds within it a real refreshing approach in how you can explain and communicate in-depth topics. The book itself is a catalogue in reference to an exhibition that took place but within it, real life projects are showcase with an inquisitive dialogue and sense of questioning throughout.
More important than that is just the range of techniques and approaches to visualising the work, childlike illustrations, handmade models. These methods and approaches are what we use to stimulate our creativity and I think this book really shows that.
I have been buying art and design books since I started my BA and have continued to do so, sharing my books with my students over the past 10 years. Despite how much information is available online, I still find myself searching through my bookshelf. To me, the process of sitting down with a book and shutting yourself away to become completely engrossed in the pages you flick between is one of the most satisfying creative experiences there is. I am also never too far away from a pad and pen ready to scribble down any references and ideas that may pop up whilst reading.
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