Monday, July 22, 2013

Colors and Opposites: Xavier Deneux



It's so lovely to see concept books presented in a fresh way. Xavier Deneux has achieved that with Colors and Opposites, touch/think/learn. With carefully designed cutouts he shows color. A raised brown bear walks from the right hand of the spread, leaving his cutout behind, now filled with brown leaves. A white raised cat stands opposite her cutout of a black cat.

Opposites is wider in representation. A raised cat atop a ladder illustrates High, while in the opposite cutout a mole shows Low. A Heavy raised elephant is opposite of a cutout Light cloud.

The tag on the series which includes Numbers and Shapes as well is: To touch is to experience. To experience is to learn. There is a choking hazard for children under 3 due to the small pieces. Otherwise, the work is a visual delight.

Colors
Opposites
by Xavier Deneux
Handprint Book, Chronicle, 2013

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