Word Play
Pretty Ugly
TEXT BY KENDAL MCINNIS
Ugly can now be defined as beautiful thanks to Pretty Ugly, a
book dedicated to rediscovering classically ugly art. Filled with
commonly known unattractive art pieces Pretty Ugly posed
the question, “what really is ugly?” Opposed to the minimal,
monochromatic design style that is popular today Pretty Ugly
is a collective of all the designs opposite to that. Due to horrid
color pairings, unnecessary graphics, and seemingly meaningless photography style the pieces featured couldn’t be farther
from what is currently trending. It’s what these pieces do not
have that cause them to stand out. The lack of conformity the
work expresses breaks the tradition design style mold. By creating a book that glorifies a variety of art forms, from photography
to graphic design that have been recognized as ugly, they have
us wondering why we were so quick to categorize these pieces
unappealing? The colors are bright, the typography indecipherable, and the graphics are a little crazed, but somehow this ugly
style of design is so different one can’t might find it appealing.
This book features work that you’ve been told to hate, from loud
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prints, to contemporary color schemes, and layouts that leave
you feeling so confused you start to love it. There is beauty to this
madness. Pretty Ugly encourages design identity. By accepting
commonly despised art they are opening up the floor for outthere designs. This book is a reminder that creativity and unique
style beat inside-the-box design every time.
Pretty Ugly can inspire the uninspired and add flare to any
book collection. Recognizing the artwork you don’t typically see
hung in galleries and displayed on billboards, it sheds light on
what would otherwise be ignored. Editor, Martin Lorenz and his
wife Lupi Ansesio have succeeded in creating a book that does
more than just sit on a coffee table. Published in 2012 Pretty Ugly
has set the standard for new, individual, rule breaking design
styles for years now. The common ideas of beauty have been
shattered, making room for more broad definition. Pretty Ugly
is filled with over two hundred pages of incredible art that you’ll
find inspiring, and just a little bit ugly.