Book of the Week: A Pick by Forrest Soper

Book of the Week Book of the Week: A Pick by Forrest Soper Forrest Soper selects The Accidental Fold by Saskia De Brauw as Book of the Week.

The Accidental Fold. By Saskia De Brauw. Self-published, 2016.

Forrest Soper selects The Accidental Fold Self-published by Saskia De Brauw as Book of the Week. 

"The Accidental Fold by Saskia De Brauw is one of the most intimate books I have seen in 2016. A mobile diary, this book contains scans of found objects from the artist’s many travels and excursions. Alongside these items, small stories and excerpts from De Brauw’s life are scattered. With numerous loose prints, translucent pages, and a dust jacket that unfolds into a poster, this book easily captivates your imagination and urges you to investigate further.

The objects presented in The Accidental Fold were collected over a period of five years from locations across the globe. With over ninety individual items displayed, it is easy to first dismiss this project as yet another taxonomical collection or archive. However, it soon becomes clear to the viewer that these items were incredibly well curated. Broken, torn, folded and soiled, these objects would often be overlooked if seen in the street. However, when they are presented in the pages of this book, they transform into beautiful and personal relics. De Brauw shows us that these items all have a story behind them — even if we don’t know what that story may be.

Alongside these objects, De Brauw has included tales from her own life. She describes scenes that she witnesses and interactions that she has had. In one story a blind woman shouts “I will kill you if you get in my way” as she walks down the street. In another, a homeless man informs De Brauw of a nearby carjacking that resulted in a death. These stories are collections from the street — similar to the objects she collects. Fragmented and non-linear, the texts are poetic and reflective. De Brauw is a witness to the ever-evolving world around her and these passages are a testimony to that fact.

Reading The Accidental Fold is akin to reading a personal journal. It is intimate, it is delicate, and it is intriguing. Perusing this book is an experience — and one that is sure to leave an impact. The design is impeccable, the objects are fascinating, and the text is revealing. This book displays a fragile intimacy that is sure to leave a long-lasting impact in the viewer's mind." —Forrest Soper

Purchase Book

The Accidental Fold. By Saskia De Brauw. Self-published, 2016.

The Accidental Fold. By Saskia De Brauw. Self-published, 2016.

Forrest Soper is a photographer and artist based out of Santa Fe, New Mexico. A graduate of the Santa Fe University of Art and Design, he also has previously worked at Bostick & Sullivan. Forrest is the Editor of photo-eye Blog.
http://forrestsoper.com/