While I was in Australia I picked up a copy of Underscore, a magazine from Singapore, and I've been meaning to post about how much I like it. The design attracted me straight away; it's a pleasing portrait format, and a size that fits nicely into the hands, and printed on a lovely thick matt paper-stock. Also there is an elegant simplicity about the typography and art direction that sets it apart from others. I enjoyed the contents, an eclectic range of articles on subjects from around the world, such as a tiny independent publishing house Gottlund Verlag in Pennsylvania; post-rock band 65daysofstatic; Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnaulds; a photostory about people living in Chernobyl and artist Cornelia Hesse-Honegger's beautiful and eerie paintings of insects showing genetic mutation as a result of radiation exposure; inside the Michelberger Hotel (a brilliant place to stay in Berlin that WKR highly recommends); a little article on life in Helsinki, and another on Rabat; a profile and fashion shoot on designer Lee Cotter of Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair, and a feature on the perfect apron for domestic chores (see it here at Labour & Wait).
All in all, just the kinds of things I like to find out about, and beautifully presented within a framework theme ('constant') introduced by editor Justin Long: 'We just want to be better: better at what we do, better at being human… As keen followers of the notion of wabi sabi we acknowledge its three simple truths: nothing is perfect, nothing lasts and nothing is finished… So we choose our path – one with heart – and follow through on it; when it is all over too soon we hope to be able to hold our heads up high.'
I don't think they need worry – or rather, maybe through worrying they have managed to create this rather perfect magazine. Not only that, they have put together a soundtrack for you to download and listen to while you read (or just anytime). Find it here.
[Not widely available in the UK, but I think I have seen it in one or two places. You can also easily buy online.]
