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Abstract City
In July 2008, illustrator and designer Christoph Niemann began Abstract City, a visual blog for the New York Times. His posts were inspired by the desire to re-create simple and everyday observations and stories from his own life that everyone could relate to. In Niemann’s hands, mundane experiences such as riding the subway or trying to get a good night’s sleep were trans...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
April 1st 2012
by Harry N. Abrams
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May 19, 2012
Eve
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
artists, designers, New Yorkers, art lovers, anyone!
Shelves:
graphic
Clearly, Christoph Niemann's brain works differently than everyone else's, because he isn't just a designer or an artist blogging for the New York Times (where he recently live-drew the running of the New York Marathon): His media include cookie dough, wires, Legos and even tiles (check out the MTA map bathroom he created for his subway-obsessed kids). He hilariously documents his love-hate affair with coffee (drawn with coffee on paper napkins, of course), creates schematics of sleep positions,...more
We all take in life as we live, it's how we let it out again that shows who we are. For Christoph Niemann, his life comes out through his graphic design influenced art work. Much of the unique work that appears in his book ABSTRACT CITY originally appeared as part of his visual blog for the New York Times. Working like visual essays accompanied by modest text, each is a treat presenting relatable moments from everyday life in formats that recall catalogs or training manuals. Often silly but alwa...more
What a treat. I'm new to Niemann, but definitely a fan after this book. The German artist behind New York Times visual blog Abstract City, now known as Abstract Sunday, pokes fun at the nuances of spooning, Newton’s laws, even the perils of transcontinental airline travel in his work. Other news outlets are also big into the artist. Along with New Yorker covers and work for Wired, the illustrator has won scads of awards. His newest book, Abstract City, visually spears every aspect of city life.
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The first and last "essays" had my full attention: the subway boys (despite my envy at having boys who love subways so much) and the unprettied-look at a creative's life (spot on!). The others had wonderful moments. Haunted Household went down the cute road that the others flirted with, but went there too far. Also: bathroom tile: couldn't enjoy because I was too busy being envious that they had two bathrooms with tile. But yeah, that's my problem.
What an astonishing display of gaspworthy creativity. I had thought it rare that a man could concoct a singular essay with such rolling-stream inventiveness, and he's got 16 of 'em! I then found more of his works online, and I absolutely love to death his live-draw 2011 NYC Marathon, and I've already liked his Facebook page and have RSSed his Times column and I just can't get enough. Wow, what a brain!
Niemann thinks about life differently than I (or many people) do. Mainly, graphically. Some of his drawings and paired stories (or visual essays) really succeed at being surprising and provocative. I especially enjoyed the story about his young boys' love of the NY subway ("The Boys and the Subway"), Niemann's tribute to lego's (I LEGO NY"), and his "Afterward," which is all about his creative process. I kind of skimmed the other ones...
This is such a refreshing mix of examples of diagramming the ways a mind can work with presenting unusual ways of perceiving ordinary everyday objects and then metamorphosing and illustrating these concepts into such simplistic splendor!
I LOVED reading this! It excites the creative side of my brain. But alas, mine just doesn't work like Christopher Niemann's does.
I LOVED reading this! It excites the creative side of my brain. But alas, mine just doesn't work like Christopher Niemann's does.
I LOVED THIS BOOK! Incredibly charming, and with a take on urban living that is entirely singular (as it's taken from Lego creations, bits of lint, computer cables and road maps.)
I have no graphic design sense myself - and so when I read this book, I was filled with wonder about how it was made and the clever perspectives. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
I have no graphic design sense myself - and so when I read this book, I was filled with wonder about how it was made and the clever perspectives. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
The pieces that make up this book are insanely inventive and varied. Niemann makes the minutiae of life exciting, funny, and visually beautiful. Some pieces work better than others, but overall, you walk away from the collection wondering how many things in life slip past you without being given their proper regard.
Niemann's blog, now beautifully collected in this book, is really the only thing that has ever made me want to live in New York and have subway-obsessed children. The leaves are brilliant, even if the whole project is more whimsical than I care to admit due to my fondness for it.
What a charming light read: epitome of the argument for the graphic novel as a form fit for adult consumption. The content is a set of light-hearted graphical essays, each rendered in a different visual style, about the author's family and experiences living in NYC and Berlin.
Christoph Niemann has made me re-learn what comics can be. While some pieces were stronger than others, I felt that every one of them made me think of comics a little differently. He moves smoothly and unjarringly between humor and poignancy. I hope he keeps making these pieces; I would read volumes of them.
Wow. I polished this off over a leisurely breakfast. Lots of smile/laugh moments. I want to frame page 259. And I think my fave chapter might actually have been the first, about the NYC subway & his kids.
He really makes it look easy. The short illustrated observations collected here are quite simple, often humorous, and always charming (in a good way). Even what I couldn't directly relate to was admirable.
Not all chapters resonate, but the ones that do are great fun--"Let It Dough," "Biodiversity," "I LEGO NY" are all terrifically amusing visual essays.
I love Christoph Niemann's art. This was lovely and entertaining, except that I had seen all of these in the Times before. Still, he has such great ideas.
Hilarisch. Ik had buikpijn van het lachen. Op sommige momenten vraag je je af waar hij het vandaan haalt, terwijl je eigenlijk moet toegeven dat het o zo herkenbaar is. Aanrader!
Oh, New York. Let me count the ways.
My favorite pieces were "The Boys and the Subway" and "I LEGO NY."
Thanks for the birthday present, Allie.
My favorite pieces were "The Boys and the Subway" and "I LEGO NY."
Thanks for the birthday present, Allie.
Amazing! This is a picture books for adults-- Neimann is very creative as an artist and story-teller. This was a lot of fun to read.
So so so so clever!!! Reading this is seeing the world from Mr. Niemann's perspective and I have to admit that I'm pretty jealous...
I loved seeing Christoph Niemann in the New York Times and love this compilation of his visual blog. Best coffee table book ever.
Always loved Christoph Niemann's blogs. There were few pages that I did not get but I thoroughly enjoyed most of it.
Niemann's designs, and the tales he tells through them, are original, wry, beautiful. What else do you want?
So good. Highly recommended for my most creative friends. And it's a super quick read. Bonus!!
Fun, witty, clever. I'll be buying copies of this for friends and family for years.
The design of it! YES! funny and thoughtful and visually engaging in multiple ways.
A really fun read, especially if you love NYC and enjoy art.
Graphically imaginative. Quick read and :) :0 :) (funny)
Adorable. Just sat down and read it cover-to-cover.
I just read an excerpt on NPR's website and thought it was very clever. Can hardly wait to see the rest!
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Mar 28, 2012 08:25pm