A collection of books and magazines are scattered across a pink surface. One cover features the word “MOTHER” above a person’s silhouette, while another reads “EVERY MORNING NOW SOMETHING”.

Happiness IS contagious so smile with me at THINGS!

Words: Ross Bryant
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Date: 10 November 2012; Things
Work

I look in the Things box the way Professor Brian Cox looks at the stars — smiling like the cow that got the grass. And let’s be honest, when it comes to Things, you’re like a fiendish cat frothing at the mouth lusting after the mouse dangling before your nose. We sense your pent up exhiliration people, and never wanting to disappoint here’s your fix of Things that dropped like they were hot through our letterbox.

Three printed cards lay on a pink surface. Two dark grey cards feature bold white text, including the phrases “Echoes of voices” and “Every morning now some of the things you have loved will always”. A smaller card shows a black and white photograph of a grand building with the text “Civilisations come and go like autumn leaves and rain” laid over it. — Above
Robert Montgomery: Echoes of Voices in the High Towers

An open magazine shows a photograph of a black wall with white text. The legible phrases include “NEW YORK HELICOPTERS”, “IS NOT SILENCE” and “YOU LOVE WILL”. — Above
Robert Montgomery: Echoes of Voices in the High Towers

A dark grey card rests on a pink surface. White sans-serif text reads “EVERY MORNING NOW SOME OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE LOVED WILL ALWAYS BE BEHIND YOU”. — Above
Robert Montgomery: Echoes of Voices in the High Towers

A close-up of a black card with bold white typography. The visible text reads “EVERY MORN NOW SOME OF THE THIN YOU HAVE L WILL ALWAY”. — Above
Robert Montgomery: Echoes of Voices in the High Towers

A large digital billboard displays a poem in white capital letters against a dark blue background. It reads “ECHOES OF VOICES IN THE HIGH TOWERS ALL WOUNDS EXPLAINED HERE ALL KNIVES BANISHED ALL EMPIRES ARRESTED ALL CASTLES UNBUILT ALL HEARTS UNBROKEN”. To the right, a white radar dome sits atop a concrete tower under a pale sky. — Above
Robert Montgomery: Echoes of Voices in the High Towers

Two posters are pinned to a brick wall. The left poster features white text on a black background explaining the military doctrine of “Shock and Awe”. The right poster shows a blurred image of a person with the words “BERLIN DU RIST” and “SO WONDER” layered over the top. — Above
Robert Montgomery: Echoes of Voices in the High Towers

A person stands with their back to the camera, holding a microphone up towards a pale sky. Large, bold letters float across the centre of the image, reading “GODS ARE HALF REMEMBER”. — Above
Robert Montgomery: Echoes of Voices in the High Towers

A white book or pamphlet rests on a pink background. Bold black text on the cover reads “ALIVE IN THE SUNLIGHT”. — Above
Robert Montgomery: Echoes of Voices in the High Towers

Robert Montgomery: Echoes of Voices in the High Towers

And my oh my, the first Thing we have for you is scalding. Robert Montgomery’s Echoes of Voices in the High Towers is an artist book published by mono.kultur. A2 in size, divided into three different parts, this publication is full of Robert’s works displaying his striking words that appear as statements from the collective unconsciousness, emphasising his subtle ideas and poetic allusions. The three-part book chronicles those moments of profound magic found throughout Robert’s work; those moments can spring on you at any time, anywhere — “In the middle of the street, we might come across his words and realise that someone is speaking with us — through an anonymous poem between advertising billboards or as an unidentified page in a magazine, or a light installation illuminating the night”. His poems, like this publication, will always have a tendency to linger in our memory.

www.mono-kultur.com

A pair of dark grey knitted gloves with olive green trim on the thumbs and cuffs. A black tag attached to the gloves reads “etre” and “MADE IN THE BRITISH ISLES”. — Above
Etre: Touchy gloves

A pair of knitted gloves, one burgundy and one charcoal grey, lie on a pink surface. Beside them is a black lookbook with the word “etre” and the text “AUTUMN WINTER 2012”. — Above
Etre: Touchy gloves

A pair of fingerless knit gloves, one burgundy and one black, lie across a black book. The book features the word “etre” in the centre and “AUTUMN WINTER 2012” at the bottom. — Above
Etre: Touchy gloves

A black book with the word “etre” in white lowercase letters on the cover. A pair of burgundy and cream knitted gloves rests on the right side of the book against a pink background. — Above
Etre: Touchy gloves

Etre: Touchy gloves

Now this is something everyone will be asking that overweight, eccentric, fun-loving deliverer of christmas cheer for. In fact, this product is so useful, I make predictions that it will increase productivity in the world tenfold — dragging us out of the economic doldrums to a brighter future where I can eat a pack of mince pies without feeling extravagantly guilty (although this depends how you use the modern tech world). May I present for you touchy-feely pleasure the Etre Touchy Wool Gloves. So, you’re probably just thinking these are any old gloves capable only of keeping your fleshly little digits warm in arctic conditions. WRONG! These gloves are something straight off the Inspector Gadget dream sheet, allowing every wearer to remain comfortably warm and interact with their touchscreen devices. Their missing thumb and index fingertips give you the freedom to text, tweet and touch so you’ll never again miss that moment when a video of veggie thrusting goes viral while you’re walking home through the wintry snow (so much for increasing useful productivity!) No matter, these gloves are such a touch and I want them.

www.etreshop.com

A teal magazine cover features a central photograph of a person laughing with their hands on their head. Large, glittery letters spell “PEREZ” across the image. Small text at the top reads “HAPPINESS IS CONTAGIOUS”, while the bottom lists “ISSUE #1” and the date “SEPTEMBER 2012”. — Above
Perdiz: Happiness is contagious

An open magazine page shows a child in a white T-shirt looking up at a roof crowded with pigeons. Above the image, a quote reads “The birds create a sense of responsibility and purpose, having them is a way to have control over something in a world that is otherwise full of surprises.” — Above
Perdiz: Happiness is contagious

An open book on a pink background shows a portrait of an elderly person smiling. They wear a white top, a pearl necklace and a black and white houndstooth jacket. — Above
Perdiz: Happiness is contagious

An open book displays a collage of animals across its two pages. A deer, dogs and birds are arranged on a textured grey plinth against a plain white background. — Above
Perdiz: Happiness is contagious

An open book with a white page and a thick pink border. In the centre, the words “happy pills” sit above a small pink cross. — Above
Perdiz: Happiness is contagious

An open book rests on a pink surface. A page features a quote in all caps that reads, “The birds create a sense of responsibility and purpose.” — Above
Perdiz: Happiness is contagious

Perdiz: Happiness is contagious

The next thing that delighted us with a boost of happiness is the first issue of Perdiz. This magazine encapsulates a sense of joy, promoting things that make them happy. Inside you’ll find stories on pigeons flying in unexpected places, quests for utopias and the Japanese smile, all accompanied with stunning visuals on a paper stock that in itself prods me towards the ecstatic. Mainly, what this publication represents is a positive message in the realm of social activism which describes itself as “a virus that, like yawning in the Tube and laughter between friends, is catching”. We can put an It’s Nice That seal of approval on this publication, it quite literally does what it sets out to. Happiness really IS contagious.

www.perdizmagazine.com

A magazine cover titled “MOTHER” in bold gold lettering, featuring a black and white photograph of a person seen from behind. Below the title, smaller text reads “Volume One: Genesis”. — Above
Mother: Volume one

A black and white photograph in a magazine shows a person with long, pale hair looking upwards. They wear a dark, structured jacket with metallic studs. — Above
Mother: Volume one

A magazine cover titled “MOTHER” features a black and white photograph of a person with long dark hair, seen from behind. The text “Volume One: Genesis” is printed across the centre, with “AUTUMN WINTER 2012” and a list of names at the bottom. — Above
Mother: Volume one

A photograph in an open book shows a group of people covered in thick, yellow and purple powder. They are huddled together, their forms blurred by the colourful dust. — Above
Mother: Volume one

An open book on a pink background shows a black and white photograph of a small, white, fluffy object hanging by a string in a dark room. A caption below the image reads “Fig.5—RESTRAINT”. — Above
Mother: Volume one

Mother: Volume one

To the Mother we go, not for a plaster on our cut knee, but for a beautiful exploration in new visual dialogues. The independent magazine is an Anglo-Japanese platform which explores stunning fashion editorial, photography, movement, art and architecture with each volume having a theme. One of the things that I love about Mother is their willingness to embrace new, innovative and emerging artists alongside the more established names on the block to both present and interpret one concept. This gives the whole project a feeling of integrity and explosive creativity. Mother states in the front that they “blend the body of imagery into a unique conversation between its creators.” It’s a conversation the reader feels involved in and engaged by. It truly is at the sharp end of a sharp thing setting a very high bench mark.

www.mother-magazine.com

Above

Victory Journal

A black and white photograph in a magazine shows Muhammad Ali leaning back in the seat of a car. He wears a dark suit and tie, with his eyes closed. — Above
Victory Journal

A black and white photograph in a book shows Muhammad Ali shirtless, arms raised in victory. He stands against a backdrop of city skyscrapers under a pale sky. — Above
Victory Journal

Victory Journal

I know your type people, you’re all set for the weekend, just gagging for the football results and the latest tactical chats down the pub. Perhaps not. Well then you’re definitely readying yourself for a spot of roller-blading fully equipped with crash hats and protective knee pads. Still not your bag? Well then maybe just sit down with some creative, aesthetic goodness instead. Sounds ideal to me, and Victory journal is the perfect accompaniment to your strenuous creative engagement. Victory describes itself as the “refuge for the true sportsman”. And who could argue with them when in their latest offering they present us with incredible, personal pictures of Muhammed Ali. The journal, like those of you turned off by my tactical description, is unmoved by statistical analysis and provincial opinion, offering instead an artful insight into the glories and ignominies of players and pursuits.

www.victoryjournal.com