About the Project
Where did all this started?
Somewhere in my head, while walking road in front of me. After a moment or two, first book pages was written. Since that moment, it has been one and a half years.
Stockholm, Sweden is the answer. In a grey skied day. Is it even correct – “grey skied” ?
As I was saying, it was grey skied day. One of those vacation days. One of those “don’t have anything planned days” .
Mind just strolled back and forth and on the side. Like a hobo. And if I think twice, probably, that is pretty accurate description of my mind in some days – “a hobo” .
Anyway, one thought let to another, and next thing you know – I was sitting on the bench and started vigorously write in a notebook.
This is a picture of that day. Told you it was grey. But enough about history, lets talk presence.
What this project is about?
If I would say – about the book, it wouldn’t be precise. Yeah, book tells how and what happened, but early on it was clear that I don’t have a passion about detailed descriptions. More precise answer would be – about book, photos and videos, and extra.
Now and in near future, I will try to tell a story through photos and videos as well, but it will be open to interpretation. To get the “full picture” you need both – book plus media. Most of the media files will be over here, for free, so with a little bit of imagination you can think of some alternate version of the story.
And what refers to word “extra” – those are the things that no one quite sees, in times, not even me. It is all about putting together this project, strategizing, what and when to do what. And this “extra” is the real killer. It is a constant “Alright, I will do point 1. and afterwards point 2. ” But it usually is “Point 1. can’t be done right now, because Point 3. now is emergency. ” And now all effort and time goes into Point 3. Of course Point 1. is postponed, because of that, point 2. is postponed as well. And in the moment you do Point 1. and 2., you realize – Point 3. was never an emergency.
But the short answer is – about book, photos and videos, and some other … things
What are project's most important moments?
Printing out first 50 books was a big one. The printing itself wasn’t that hard. Actually typography did it. But to get to that point.
First of all – besides the fact, that content of the book is in handwritten-type style, you need to believe there is something worth to print out and multiply. Something worth to tell. Do I have a hook in a writing? Doubt it. There is just this belief, that it needs to be done and needs to be done this way.
Next – technical part. As I mentioned – handwritten-type style has a bit different approach. Mistakes are not as easy to fix, so attention to actual writing as an action takes more focus. It is between “ok, do I re-write whole page, try to fix it, or just leave it as it is?” I have used all three options.
Alright, let’s assume, you have some story or two. Next action – content needs to be scanned-in. Now you have .pdf or .jpg files.
At this point you already know or, atleast presume, in what sizes the book will be. What program to use for edit, how much distance from the edge. So for few days it’s process like that.
Now, ideas presentation to typography. I did this remotely, and it was a lot of trust into their experience. They tried to describe materials, the color. But one thing is to hear, another is to actually see. After 10 days of making they were ready . Since then it’s a new level to this project. To go from thoughts in your head to words on the paper to professionally made book. The fact that it is physical, that it has legit covers around, the fact that it was only in one exemplar and now it becomes multiple. Milestone for sure.
Second one – what I am to trying to achieve right now – making internet shop. It’s 3 days before “opening”, and definitely there is excitement. Just to make something that will be available for whole world, that soon somebody from totally different part of the world will be able to order and receive a book from this website. Yeah, that is milestone nr. 2. for sure.
Internet shop will be available in 27th of february, 2025.