Physical Poetry Alphabet by Francoise Kirkland

Physical Poetry Alphabet is a photography book, a celebration of design, and a movie-all rolled into one and presented in an exuberant and lush book. One of the doyens of portrait photography in Hollywood, Douglas Kirkland works together with Françoise Kirkland to create a modern-day abecedarium: the inimitable acrobatic sky dancer Erika Lemay, Milanese fashion director Simone Guidarelli, and designer William Thoren. Their playful creation harks back to the corporeal origins of the alphabet, echoing similar exercises in Western culture from the Renaissance to the great works of Art Deco. Besides Douglas Kirkland's impeccable photography, we get a backstage peek at the making of these images, alongside essays by Lemay and the creative team. The book also contains an introduction by book designer and typographer Ornan Rotem on the development of the alphabet and the relationship between the human body and letters. Beautifully produced with stunning illustrations, Physical Poetry Alphabet will appeal to anyone interested in design and photography.