NO CURE MAGAZINE
(MONDAY 23RD MARCH 2020)
I was given this magazine (Issue 18) early last year but I’ve never actually looked through it properly. It is an Australian indie art culture magazine that primarily focuses on street art, illustration, design, photography, music and youth culture. I had never heard of it prior to receiving this copy, however, I have done more research recently (bottom picture).
The cover of my issue (top left) was created by Michael Bennett, otherwise known as ‘Inkboy’. I really like his strong use of blue and pink throughout the piece and its captivating appeal. The dark and drab tones of the buildings and structures starkly contrast the blue and pink colours, and link to how an art culture consumes a city and without it, cities are dull and meaningless. It actually reminds me of a quote I really dislike: “The Earth without ‘art’ is just ‘eh’”. Although I am not fond of the phrase, it is relevant, and speaks to how cities, or planet Earth, would be cold and sad and bland if there was no art culture existing within it.
My issue features a wide range of artworks and interviews with artists and other creators. I chose to include three page-spreads from my edition which exhibit the art and interviews. I really like the formatting of David Clarke’s page (top right), and how everything is bordered and has its own place. In contrast, the No Cure interview with Markus Ravik photography (middle right) still has a level of order, but the photographs extend beyond the centre binding of the book, providing a freer format. Perhaps this decision was made to maintain the audience’s focus on the largest element in the spread - the pictures - and hold the reader’s focus as their eyes dart to the written text. The interview with Sam Octigan with photography by David Bobis (middle left), has a heavy presence of visual art, using the entire left page for one artwork, however, I question how this formatting selection is not overwhelming for audiences, or how it works.
[The included images have been individually referenced. They are visible when the images are viewed in presentation mode]
