Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
By James Gulliver Hancock, Hardie Grant, $29.99.
Hancock is on a one-man mission to illustrate “every place in every city everywhere”.
Here’s another one. Described as an exciting city, we take a look at Melbourne. We get a chance to look through his unique and charming cityscape drawings that pay tribute to the city’s diverse architectural styles.
Organised by neighbourhoods, this book features iconic Melbourne structures, such as the Arts Centre and Flinders Street Station, as well as, the buildings that give the city its character — the terrace houses in Fitzroy, the Melbourne trams and of course, the ubiquitous coffee scene.
James’ buildings are colourful and packed with fun and offbeat details, yet the uniquely charming cityscape drawings capture the technical elements and the essence of the architecture that makes Melbourne such a beautiful city.
It’s been described as a love letter to Melbourne, Australia. The famous buildings are “alongside some grandma’s 1950s cottage … ornate gothic stone buildings and crazy contemporary sculptural facades. What I really love [are] the day-to-day buildings where [people have] made strange little additions, or terraces down a side street”.
It took Hancock several months to draw the whole book. “Each building might take a couple of days to complete, but I work more piecemeal than that. I go to a place and wander. I do a bit of actual sketching on the street, fantastic for mixing accident and the unexpected into the drawings.” The studio is better for the messier things, like collage and ink-dipping pens, which is very much a part of his style.
Just as his other book, All the Buildings in London, Hancock effectively captures each building’s design details. His offbeat drawing style gives a sense of whimsical and delightful fun.
