Srini Kumar
Disinformation 2008
Tower Books Australia
One
of the ways that the disenfranchised like to communicate is via T-Shirts,
buttons, posters and above all stickers. Stickers seem to be such an easy way
to put across ideas into bite sized packages that confront, dazzle, offend and
stimulate debate. Stickers create a way to put a message across that isn’t
controlled by mass media or censored by the mainstream.
Srini
Kumar has made a name for himself worldwide as one of the most popular sticker
artists. He began in 1994 in a simple quick print store and now his stickers
have achieved legendary status at Unamerican.com and StickerNation.com.
At
the same time stickers are not cheap and to be able to buy a whole book of them
at a good price is pretty damn awesome. Sticker Nation 1 was a rave success and
this follow up volume is just as superb, it is filled to the brim with all
manner of stickers. Some of my favourites include “I refuse to be a Victim”, “Nobody
Owns You” and “Mix Business with Pleasure”.
The
vast majority of the stickers in the book are single-line slogans, arranged eight
to a page. There is also a selection of two line slogans and a separate section
at the end has larger slogans on smaller button sized stickers (with
explanations).
Sticker
Nation includes a great introduction and a section on how to use Stickers
(which Kumar sees as radical poetry) to communicate your message. There is also
information on how to purchase custom vinyl stickers from his website with your
own message.
On a practical level, the stickers are well
made, easy to remove and stick well.
This
is a very fun way to express all manner of strange ideas from inspiration to protest,
geek speak to philosophy, politics to just plain rebellion ! It is economical,
entertaining and very cool. Get sticking !
This review will appear in Volume 2:1
(2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.
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