Book Review:Misha Hollenbach

Misha Hollenbach lives and works in Melbourne Australia, but his head is in the clouds. In mushroom clouds too. He his one half of P.A.M. (Perks And Mini), and also works as an artist in a multi-disciplinary practice. He has had numerous solo shows, and is an avid collaborator in creative projects: with others such as Jun Takahashi, Fergus Purcell, Skatething, EYE, Mike Kelley, Peter Sutherland, BLESS, and others.

He also publishes books under the PAMBOOK name, having worked with Joseph Szabo, Susumu Mukai, Ed Templeton, Barry McGee, with new books on their way by Nick Waplington, Penny Slinger and Mathew Hale. As well as book publishing, P.A.M. have put out a series of DJ mix collaborations with 2 Many DJ's ,Thomas Bullock (Rub n Tug) and DJ Nozaki (Tokyo), with new releases forthcoming by Lovefingers and Totebags. His love for music has seen him DJ around the globe, and recently as one half of the Bamboo Musik duo.

An all-round lover of all things wonderful, Misha Hollenbach collects, uses, makes, covets, purveys, and dreams of beautiful books, music, objet, art, food and film.

50% The Visible Woman by Penelope Slinger (left)

A beautiful artist's book, looking inside the artist herself. Deeply surrealistic images overlaid with poems printed on vellum represent a psycho-mythic confrontation dealing with what it is to be a woman, made by a woman - shown from the inside. This is a truly wonderful journey into the body, mind and soul of a very powerful woman. Get inside if you ever have the chance.

Nanoo by Eye (left)

Mind Expanding furthermore. Eye's brain, and the connection between the two is a two-way street, if not an 'information super-highway', albeit travelling in the wrong right direction. Like Max Ernst, and 'all the others' I adore, his Eye sees through the muck, and thus emerges the brain, the psychedelic, visionary, punk brain (see Boredoms and Lift Boys). Eye's brain confuses his L's and R's, the left side definitely overcoming the right! Up to Left, down to the Right!! Then straight ahead, backwards!!!!!!

Journal D'un Astronaute Millenaire by Max Ernst (right)

From where perhaps it all began? Within are magic moments of perception, association, and recognition. Max Ernst had an enlarged visual cortex. His, and ours, was located in the occipital lobe in the back of the brain. I like the idea that you can build this muscle up, enlarging it so that it takes over your whole brain, rendering rational thought useless, and ending up seeing things for what they really are or could be.

The Telephone Book by John Baldessari (left)

Eloquent and of perfect design, images of telephones (and pearls), this is the quintessential artist's book. Baldessari draws with images and allows for a screenplay without words. Whatever Baldessari takes out is what we are left with and/or vice versa. Holding this book, you feel the energy of an important artefact. A wonderful book by a wonderful artist. Every time I pick this up from the shelf the feeling doesn't change, even before I open the pages, it's the only telephone book I've used for years. Bring bring!

Terry's Hit Parade by Teruhiko Yumura (right)

King Terry aka Mista Gonzo aka Terry Johnson aka Terry Yamura aka Teruhiko Yumura is the master of heta-uma, the bad/good graphic style he pioneered in the early 1970's. Think of Haemeroidded Pole Dancing, Fashion Catalogues, Beach Scenes, and Sweet Black & Gay Soul (It's a Mans' Man's World). If Mista Gonzo TBack Terry was a juke machine, I'd be broke!