Sunday 7 August 2011

Book Review: The Art of Steampunk by Art Donovan

Pros: fabulous full colour photos and detail shots, wide variety of artworks

Cons: some artworks are more appealing than others, some artists only have one page, while others got several pages

The Art of Steampunk is a full colour guide to the steampunk exhibit hosted by the University of Oxford's Museum of the History of Science from October 2009 to February 2010.  It included works from 18 artists.

Beginning with an intruduction by the exhibit's curator, Art Donovan and a steampunk 101 essay, by G. D. Galksen, the book showcases a wide variety of steampunk art.  From lamps, watches and laptop covers to clothing, jewelry and sculpture, there's something for everyone. 

I was a little surprised that some of the artists got several pages in which to desplay their art while others only had one.  Perhaps those artists had fewer words, but it makes the book feel a little uneven.

The book itself has an old fashioned feel due to the cream paper look and images of photo corners and yellowed tape to 'hold' the pictures in place.

This is an excellent primer for newcomers to the subgenre as well as a beautiful book for collectors and affictionados.

1 comment:

Art Donovan said...

Hi, Jessica,

Thank you for the great post.

Yes, it's been mentioned in a few reviews that some artists received more coverage in the book than others.

In order to give the reader an intimate feel for the artist's individual personalities, I gave each artist the freedom to create their own pages and to submit as much work as they wished.

This book is the exact reproduction of their submissions for the exhibition journal and they were all pleased with the results.

Best Wishes and thanks again.

Art Donovan, Curator


Art Donovan