Juxtaposed: Religion Returns
Blankblank is excited to announce the Juxtaposed: Religion Tenth Anniversary Edition, designed by Mike & Maaike and produced by Blankblank. This unlimited Juxtaposed: Religion Anniversary Edition contains seven volumes representing the seven most influential world religions, each book raised to the same level physically and symbolically.
7,577,000,000 people 5,360 pages 3,700 years 206 countries 7 books 1 shelf.
This edition of Juxtaposed: Religion equally celebrates the series’ milestone and reinforces its message. “Both the current social and political climate as well as the original shelf’s tenth anniversary prompted us to revisit the design,” says Rob Zinn, Blankblank’s Founder & Creative Director. “What the world needs now is more unification, not division. The series, including Juxtaposed: Power, promotes these ideals as well as elevates information sharing and an exploration of cultural norms around the world,“ continues Zinn. Shares Mike Simonian of Mike & Maaike, "In the ten years since Juxtaposed: Religion was first introduced in 2007, the world’s population has increased from 5 billion to 7.5 billion people. Since then, the need for peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding has become ever more critical.”
Each Juxtaposed: Religion shelf includes hardcover copies of The Tao Te Ching, Holy Bible, Qur’an, Bhagavad Gita, Middle-Length Discourses of the Buddha and The Torah. The collection of books is measured to fit exactly into the precision crafted renewable Pine wood shelf, each book raised to the same level physically and symbolically. “We all have felt the decline of physical books; over the past ten years, sourcing books for our Juxtaposed Series has gotten harder,“ says Maaike Evers of Mike & Maaike. “We would like to highlight the importance of the physicality of certain books. Seeing them related and next to one another, a new message arises. We would like to think that having access to many points of view and creating empathy is at the heart of this project.”
Juxtaposed: Religion was originally produced in a limited edition of 50 bookshelves. This edition sold out quickly and has not been available for purchase since 2008. It is available for purchase beginning November 15th, 2017 on www.blankblank.net as well as via select design retailers. Click here to view some of Juxtaposed's press coverage.
Mike Simonian and Maaike Evers lead the progressive industrial design studio Mike & Maaike. Formed as a design laboratory, the San Francisco studio works both independently and with partners to create products, furniture, wearables and environments. Maaike is Dutch, Mike, Californian. Their distinct backgrounds and unique approach to design have resulted in a diverse body of work marked by experimentation, substance and strong conceptual narratives. Mike and Maaike's work is recognized internationally and exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide and they were named on Fast Company's list of Most Creative People in Business.
Founded in California in 2004, Blankblank produces limited edition and small-batch furniture, lighting and objects by award-winning designers including Mike & Maaike, Brooklyn’s Mark Goetz and Tim Richartz and Locke’s Russell Ooms as well as by BlankBlank’s Founder and Creative Director Rob Zinn. Each piece is crafted by skilled fabricators and makers within 150 miles of Blankblank’s Northern California studio.
For more information on Juxtaposed: Religion Unlimited, please email info (at) blankblank.net.