Title: Cosmic Surgery
Artist: Alma Haser
Additional contributor: Science writer Piers Bizony
Designer: Emily Macaulay, www.stanleyjamespress.com
Editor: Alma Haser
Printer: Cassochrome, Beveren, 8791 Waregem, Belgium
Publication date and place: July 2016 / Hastings, UK
Edition: 600
Format, binding: Hard Cover, covered in Wibalin with foil embossed detail on cover, back cover and spine
Size: 17.7cm x 24.7cm
Number of pages and images: 60 pages, including 12 smaller pages and 2 foldout pages.
Type of printing and paper: 4 colour litho printing + pantone, HUV offset http://www.csc.be/what-we-do/huv-offset/, 100% renewable energy. Paper type, Lessebo Design 1.3 Natural in 4 different weights, Smaller pages and end papers are Clairefontaine.
Retail price: £35
Book Description:
Imagine a world where people could swap faces, be who they want to be, change their expressions by simply thinking of the new face they want. Well in Alma Haser’s new book, you enter an imaginary but all too plausible world where cosmetics and electronics have merged with biotechnology to create “Cosmic Surgery”, the ultimate beauty technique.
Alma first started the project in 2013, where she photographed friends and family then folded their faces into Origami before re-photographing the whole thing again. The images produce unique and eerie portraits that become ‘Patient’ case studies in the book. They depict the moment the face transforms, the in-between moment of fragmentation into new identities. Also shown in pop-up form.
Science writer Piers Bizony collaborated with Alma to create the worryingly convincing futuristic brochures in the book, which explain the features of Cosmic Surgery, the benefits, the warranty guarantees, and all the other extras. The design of the book was carefully thought out and put together by designer Emily Macaulay, who has been working on the project alongside Alma for over two years.
Book Soundtrack: I actually commissioned Simon Sound to create the music for the Cosmic Surgery Special Edition Box Set. So I think there waiting room track is my favourite to go along side my book.
- Title: Cosmic Surgery