Reading Is Sexy

Let's talk books! Reading is so much fun, but in this case; a picture is defintely worth a thousand words! Recently I purchased two books from Upper Playground, São Paulo: Photographs by Boogie and Alianza by El Mac & Retna. If you are at all familar with these visual artists, you know that their works are nothing short of amazing and spectacular. These books are completely different from one another in subject matter, but still manage to have one thing in common: they are so ill!

Boogie is a street photographer from Belgrade, Serbia who possesses a rare talent for documenting the human condition in black and white. His photographs are raw, relevant, but most importantly, they tell a story. His work has taken him from Serbia, to Cuba, to New York, and throughout South America. São Paulo was taken in Brazil over the course of one week in June 2007. Needless to say, the cover is what initially drew me to this particular book, but its contents are also really good!

El Mac & Retna are two California-based artists who have gained worldwide fame in recent years with their graffiti, murals and canvases. They've painted in Los Angeles and several other cities around the globe. El Mac is known for his stylized painting of lifelike faces and figures, while Retna is known for his bold calligraphic brushwork. Together, these two are a force to be reckoned with! Alianza features the highlights of their collaborations. I highly recommend it!