Living in a fairytale world - mr finch

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Living in a Fairytale World
Mr Finch
ISBN 978-0-9913419-7-9
Published by Glitterati Incorportated
$50 / £30
Available through Amazon in the UK
www.glitteratiincorporated.com
 
 
This book has been highly anticipated all around the globe by fans of the textile artist Mr Finch.  This book does not disappoint.  For those who have glimpsed into his world of creatures and woodland flora and fauna through his Etsy shop, Facebook page and pins on Pinterest, his creations are brought together to form a cohesive whole and show how his work interacts to create a mythology of its own.
 
A Preface isn’t usually the focal point of a review, but this one, written by Justine Hand, is so beautifully written and perfectly encapsulates the essence of what the book is about, that it requires a mention.  She explains the world of Mr Finch in such magical terms, that you cannot wait to wade further into the book and explore.
 
The book is very well structured. There is a conversation with Mr Finch, which is a short but perfect length, as it introduces the artist and his methods without overpowering the work that you will be seeing.  The book is divided into sections according to the type of work it is: Insectum, Avialae, Funghi and Mammalia.  Each section is filled with a huge number of photographs of the work with details provided at the start of sizes, what they are made of and interesting facts.  The photographs are beautiful, and show off the detail and execution of each piece of work.  Some are photographed on display, some in Mr Finch’s studio, and some in a slightly more surreal setting, such as one of my favourite photos, of a spider having a tea party and pouring a cuppa.  You get to see the works in fantastic detail, some of the ways in which Mr Finch works (he talks of creating and storing a multitude of birds’ legs for future use) and different methods of presentation.  There are quotes from the artist dotted throughout and these serve to create layers of this world that exists, where toadstools are the staple of fairytales, and his hares are always made with ears straight up, so that they are always listening.  These snippets all add to your perception of a world where the animals assume human characteristics, and can be cloaked or dressed in ruffs or bow ties.  Animals that we perceive as constantly moving and frenetic are caught in a tableau of stillness and serenity, and there is great beauty to be found in that.
 
This book is such a wonderful investment and shows off the work of Mr Finch perfectly.  In all of our mad lives, you could sit down with this book and lose yourself in it.