Catalogue d'objets introuvables

by Jacques Carelman

Les activités humaines sont innombrables et variées. Certains détournent des avions, d'autres des fonds publics ou la conversation. Je préfère, quant à moi, détourner de leur usage courant les objets usuels. C'est moins dangereux, plus honnête; et infiniment plus divertissant ! Mes objets, parfaitement inutilisables, sont le contraire de ces gadgets dont notre société de consommation est si friande. Si on me le demandait, je les qualifierais de : poétiques, hilarants, absurdes, philosophiques; ingénieux, morbides, puérils, profonds, dérisoires... Le lecteur serait alors prié, selon son humeur, ses goûts et sa culture, de biffer les qualificatifs inutiles.

Genres: Design, Art, Humor, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

Reviews

[Les Wolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

A catalogue of the absurd. Every invention is a stretch beyond the limits of conventional wisdom, sensibility and practicality. Some of the photos, drawings and descriptions are metaphorical monstrosities and others are as lighthearted and whimsical as a Miro painting. I have to admit, though, I couldn't put it down until I reached the last page. I laughed out loud several times.

[Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Très fantastique!

Most peoples' introduction to Carelman's work, mine included, has been through the reverse teapot design on the front cover of Donald Norman's The Design of Everyday Things. The artist's whimsical designs are an impossibilist's delight ranging from hammers made of glass to curved shotguns for people who can't shoot strait, fanciful chairs that could never balance to umbrellas with multiple domes to accommodate small families. There are hundreds of drawings mimicking the black and white engraved style of old merchant catalogs illustrating tools, clothing and architectural details that cannot fail to bring out a smile. Shoes that point both ways, faucets to manage nasal drip and a Swiss army knife that includes a feather duster, pipe, toothbrush AND a revolver, no doubt handy for committing the perfect crime. A wonderful collection of visual paradoxes of designs gone beautifully wrong. The pleasure is in puzzling out the various absurdities and how they would function if the object actually existed.

Carelman's books come in several editions. This purchase is a replacement copy for a colour edition I had had years ago and lost by lending. It includes both volumes 1 and 2. Each of the diagrams is accompanied by a short description in easy to understand French as to the intended purpose of the article or device. Lots of fun and a great conversation piece. Recommended!

[Adil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacques Carelman was a French illustrator who created parodies to bring humor to his works. His "Catalog of Fantastic Things" is one such example - it contains illustrations of impossible objects, laid out much like a mail-order catalog.

There isn't much reading to do - instead, you marvel at the photos. Need a square-shaped traveling globe? "Fold it neatly and transport it easily. Why go on chasing a round globe as it rolls away from you?" Or, how about a comb fork with curled tines, so you can "fish that hair out of your soup?"

I love these sorts of books for their wacky ideas and will probably hang onto my copy for future brainstorming purposes. :)

[Daniela Barisone · Rating 5 out of 5]

È la cosa più geniale su cui abbia mai posato gli occhi

[Bert Huisman]

8 t2

[Otillaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stupendo, assurdo, geniale, divertente...

[Stijn · Rating 5 out of 5]

1969 memes