Oblique Drawing: A History of Anti-Perspective
Massimo Scolari, with introduction by James S. Ackerman
Translated by Jenny Condie Palandri
Hardcover, 416 pages, 6 x 9 in.
MIT Press, 2012
ISBN: 9780262017749
This book offers a fascinating perspective on perspective – or rather on those forms of visual representation that have been somewhat eclipsed over recent centuries by single-point perspective’s ability to create illusionistic 3D space. In particular it looks at parallel projection: axonometrics and isometrics, which – whatever their weaknesses illusionistically – have the great advantage over single-point perspective that they preserve the actual measurements of a represented object, avoiding distortions. Erwin Panofsky: eat-your-heart-out! The book traces the use of this form of representation in classical Greek vases, Pompeian frescoes, Byzantine mosaics, and early modern avant-garde art. Interestingly it highlights how parallel projection is still the most common form of representation used in China, underlining a key strand running through the book: that different forms of visual representation developed, not as manifestations of artistic skill, but as reflections of wider ideological and conceptual views of the world prevalent in differing cultures. (rw)
Writing About Architecture: Mastering the Language of Buildings and Cities
Alexandra Lange
Paperback, 160 pages, 19 x 20 cm.
Princeton Architectural Press, 2012
For once, New York-based architecture critic Alexandra Lange has turned her eye on her own profession. In the six chapters of her latest book she showcases six essays by renowned critics: Lewis Mumford, Herbert Muschamp, Michael Sorkin, Charles W. Moore, Frederick Law Olmsted, and Jane Jacobs. Each essay is then carefully analyzed by Lange. The book is based on her design writing courses at New York University. Certainly, Writing About Architecture is not only for students or beginners: the brilliant essays and their accompanying critical analysis offer some eye-opening inspiration for looking at and thinking about our surroundings (and architecture) much more closely. (fh)
PRODUCT GROUP
MANUFACTURER
New and existing Tumblr users can connect with uncube and share our visual diary.
Uncube is brandnew and wants to look good.
For best performance please update your browser.
Mozilla Firefox,
Internet Explorer 10 (or higher),
Safari,
Chrome,
Opera