In his artist’s book ›Ornament Stadt‹, Herbert Stattler translates 16 designs of ›ideal cities‹ into precise pencil drawings. Stattler reproduces these urban utopias—ranging from the Renaissance to the 20th century—repeatedly, until the ideal city is transformed into an ornament: fans and concentric circles, repeating bubbles, and dispersing stars. However, within the details—in the movement of the pencil mimicking the original—there is a vitality that congenially counteracts the ›big plan.‹
The book’s design draws inspiration from the portfolios used by urban planners and draftsmen. The pages are folded so that the drawings appear at their original scale. It is only upon closer inspection that their pencil-drawn nature becomes apparent; the lines are not always perfect, and as a result, the drawings depart from the rigid utopias of architects who believed in the ›perfect city.‹
The book is published on the occasion of the solo exhibition ›Stadtleitbilder‹ at the Austrian Cultural Forum Berlin 2014.
The book was longlisted for the Stiftung Buchkunst’s ›Most Beautiful German Books 2015‹ award.
Texts Hubertus Butin, Michael Hagner
Concept Herbert Stattler, Helmut Völter
Graphic design Helmut Völter
27.2 x 34.0 cm, 16 drawings, folded, block stitching with cover, separate text booklet with 24 pp. and 3 illustrations, English and German.
Leipzig 2014
ISBN 978-3-944669-40-3
Spector Books
Harkortstrasse 10
D-04107 Leipzig
Bag of the special edition »Ornament Stadt« [Ornament City« by Herbert Stattler.
›Ornament Stadt‹ is also available as numbered and signed special edition (1/25 – 25/25 + 3 AP) featuring one original pencil drawing in a bag of one of the 16 original printing sheets. Each drawing is a variation of ›Untitled (Radburn 1927),‹ part of the series ›Stadtleitbilder.‹
Format of the unfolded drawing: 46,2 x 34 cm. Format of the bag: 39 x 31.8 x 1 cm.
Available at:
Spector Books
Harkortstrasse 10
D-04107 Leipzig
One of the original pencil drawings of the special edition »Ornament Stadt«. Each drawing is a variation of Untitled (Radburn 1927).