While in NYC this past month, we came upon an amazing book at Aperture that we have to share with you.
Dutch conceptual artist Hans Eijkelboom’s : PARIS · NEW YORK · SHANGHAI. It’s an exploration of the cultures of the world that represent past,present and future in a photographic sense, with an almost anthropological slant.

With a forward by Martin Parr (perfect choice) this 3 part book shows a cultural insight into our lives. The repetition of scenarios across the world becomes a careful study that allow the viewer to bring their own conclusions about what is good, bad or indifferent.Or quite similar.
The pages hold multiple images that have been taken of people in their daily lives. No confrontation, but observed and photographed. You get to see a collection of common subjects from each city/culture.
Actually, it appears to make no judgment, but present the reality for you to ponder.

Well, no work of art ever has a completely neutral POV., right?

However, the unique, extensive work has now become one of our solid recommendations for your bookshelf. The cool design, where the covers for all three sections are connected in a folded pattern and stabilized by velcro, only adds to your experience. I may not have described that correcttly but ,trust me, it is brilliant.

And we’re giving one away for free right here. This is how you can make it yours:

This week, we’ll put the NEWSLETTER (make sure you have signed up for it to be eligible for the freebies) out on Wednesday.If you have signed up to receive it, it’ll come into your email inbox sometime that day,depending on your time zone. (9:00 AM PST)
When it gets there, read the email and click the links for some other cool news. Then hit reply, delete the body of the email (saving server space) and then put the giveaway word , “Cool Book” into the subject line, add a shipping address, ponder the effect of past and current cultures on YOUR future, and hit send. The 25th person to respond will get this collection, delivered to them poste haste.

And if you are lucky enough to be in NYC, you can hear from the artist himself on Nov. 6th.,2007

Hans Eijkelboom
Talk and Book Signing
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
6:30 p.m.
Free Admission
Aperture Gallery
547 West 27th Street, 4th floor
New York, New York
(212) 505-5555

So keep those cards and emails coming. We love to hear your feedback.

Cheers!
Damon Webster