An Ode To Penguin

Spent a quiet hour wandering around the small space at An Ode to Penguin. If books fascinate you, this should be quite interesting to see the development and fashion of covers of Penguin books through the years.

The carpark in front of The Arts House is closed off because of the renovations going on at Victoria Theatre. One would have to park a little further and walk. If you're driving, the best place to park at is The Adelphi. Second choice would be at The Riverwalk or the public carpark across the building. We chose to go in the evening where we don't have to walk under the blazing sun, and to catch the guided tour at 6pm and a sharing event at 7pm.

We sat down for design artist (see Grey Projects) and photographer/curator/book collector Jason Wee's short sharing session on his favorite Penguin covers. These covers were done by illustrators and artists across disciplines like, Harland Miller, Jamie Shovlin, Duncan Hannah, Frances Stark and Simon Morley. Also shared were Jason's specific interest in design and architecture on a couple of books published by Penguin and he touched on the influence (partnership, rather) of Penguin on art in the form of Deyan Sudjic's 'The Edifice Complex' and Alain de Botton's 'The Architecture of Happiness'

There're human guides around to share with you the history of the covers on display. Very helpful. But if you prefer to be left alone, the notes on the clipboard in front of each huge board will explain the meaning behind those color-coded covers. There's always Google on hand (your cellphone) to help.

I was really attracted to the series of books about food over the last 400 years. The covers hold really attractive illustrations. The covers are designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith. The clipboard's note explained that "each cover draws on a decorative ceramic style relevant to the period of writing. Embossed lettering, calligraphy, spot varnish, and a shake of little penguin armed with knife and fork. Enjoy." These books are available for purchase at Books Actually, and not at the exhibition. I keep seeing the books around and have resisted them for the longest time. Now that they're listed as a series in their full glory, I'm sorely tempted to buy the whole series!