One of the tasks on the list was to go to Magma book shop and write about the most inspiring book I find. When I took a day trip to London earlier in the month I had to make a fast decision whether to go to another exhibition or the bookshop and I thought it would benefit me more visiting the Damien Hirst exhibition at Tate Mod (which I wrote about here). I don't have enough money to pay for a repeat visit to London before I move so I visited the design shop at the contemporary and decided to write about one of their books instead... They have a great range of books on history and the psychology of art, alongside books showcasing individual artists work. The book that most caught my eye however, was one of the more interactive variety... you mean it's a kids book? Um, noo, pssh, what do you take me for?! Okay yeah, it's a kids book, so sue me. (actually please don't, I have no money :P)
What I loved about this book, "How to be an explorer of the world" by Keri Smith, was the way it encourages the reader to open themselves up to the world around them and experience things in a different light. Smith aids her readers in heightening awareness of their surroundings, engaging senses and encouraging artistic instinct by making the slightest detail seem profoundly significant. This is demonstrated through a series of experiments that readers can complete in everyday environments in whatever order at their own pace. I like the way it actively involves the reader to engage with the book and make it their own - I think that's why I love fashion so much over fine art. I find fashion enticingly tangible, whereas a lot of art remains contained behind a sheet of glass, in a gallery somewhere it's often seen, but rarely experienced.
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