#035 ⤑ Why We Love Collectibles
Capturing Culture. The Appeal of Stickers, Zines, and Art Books
Hey everyone,
This newsletter is about collecting, and the main reason is that we make collectible books, we collect and curate ourselves, and we all, to some degree, collect things. Whether it's art books, sneakers, stickers, stamps, cameras, artwork, or whatever it may be, there's something about gathering items, organizing them (or not) that speaks to who we are.
Zines: DIY Culture Captured on Paper
I wanted to look at zines because I don’t go out of my way to collect them; I just don’t throw them away. They end up getting absorbed into my book collection. To me, zines are the scrappy, DIY cousin of art books and more "traditional media."
They’ve been around for decades, documenting niche interests and underground movements that larger outlets often ignore. Zines are personal, often raw, and that's part of their charm and that's probably why I can’t seem to get rid of them. They might not be polished, but they’re authentic and real. Whether it’s someone’s thoughts on punk music, street art, or just daily life, a zine captures a moment, a subculture, and an attitude that you can’t find elsewhere.
Art Books: A Glimpse Into the Past and Process
Art books are great slices of life into an artist's or an art movement's world. Some are timeless, while others help you understand a scene or a movement, essentially documenting where the art or the artist is at that time.
One legendary title in my world is Subway Art. It didn’t just document graffiti; it helped communicate a movement, turning graffiti and later street art, into something people from all corners of the world could appreciate, understand, and ultimately take part in. That’s the beauty of a good art book: it doesn’t just sit on your shelf. You refer to it when you need it, and it becomes part of your process, connecting you to a moment, a place, and a time in culture.
Back in 2007, we made Rackgaki: Japanese Graffiti, our first attempt at capturing the spirit of a movement. Coming from a documentary filmmaking background, we included a DVD film with the book (you can watch the entire film below). Approaching the subject as a book was really interesting for us. Rackgaki focuses entirely on Japanese graffiti at a time when it was really starting to take off. Foreign artists (writers) were visiting Tokyo, Osaka, and other cities to paint and the styles locally were amazing to see. It was an exciting time.
Making that book felt like we were putting something meaningful out into the world, like we were documenting a slice of history in a way that mattered. This is also why we wanted to create a unique cover. We opted for a screen-printed cover by a well-known artist named Esow, to help give the book that collectible feeling.
Let’s Get Corporate For A Moment
Last year, Art Basel conducted one of their surveys about collecting, which you can read about [here]. It’s an industry read, but there were some key points that we took away, which I think are important to note.
Diverse Collecting Practices: Collectors are increasingly interested in diversifying their collections, focusing not only on traditional mediums but also exploring newer categories like photography and sculpture.
Buying Motivations: The primary motivations for collectors included a passion for art and supporting artists, with a significant proportion also viewing their acquisitions as long-term financial investments.
Shift Toward In-Person Buying: There was a resurgence in in-person purchases in 2023, with 84% of collectors buying directly from dealers.
Community and Networking: Collecting remains a social activity, with many collectors attending art fairs, gallery openings, and auctions to engage with peers and expand their networks.
Support for Emerging Artists: A significant number of collectors are actively supporting emerging artists, driven by a desire to contribute to the cultural ecosystem and discover new talent.
Surveys like this can feel a bit corporate, but if you read between the lines, there's real truth in the idea that collecting is driven by more than just some abstract financial gain. It’s about personal passion, about the art you like. By investing in the art you love, supporting emerging artists, and participating in the social side of the art world, you're not just buying pieces, art books, zines, or stickers; you're actively committing to nurturing and sustaining and caring about the general cultural landscape. It might be about you, your taste, and your relationship to it all, but it doesn’t matter - you’re partaking.
The Fulfillment of Collecting
Collecting isn’t just about gathering stuff; it’s about curating your own little museum. A collection of things that mean something to you. Whether it’s zines, stickers, or art books, they all tell stories. They remind us of places we’ve been, things we’ve experienced, or simply what matters to us. There’s something deeply personal about collecting. For those of us who understand, it’s not about the object itself, it’s about what it represents.
I've always had a soft spot for stickers and bits of art. My collection is just random stuff. Cameras, lenses, film negatives, though I'm not great at maintaining any of them, so I don’t consider myself a proper collector. Of course, I have art books and artwork, but again, these are small collections that hold personal meaning. My wife loves old medical journals. Some have worth, others don’t, but most of them make me sneeze.
Stickers: The Power of a Simple Collectible
So, back to stickers.
We can’t help ourselves. We have a brand, a shop, and a book series called Stickerbomb. That’s the motive. But it’s funny, as stickers are such an odd collectible. They are not easy to store unless you use a folder, and then they’re not the easiest to show off. Football fans collect their footy stickers and as someone who loves graffiti and street art, I have bags of stickers that I refuse to use or throw away. They’re small, cheap, fleeting but they are about expression. Whether political or personal, they’re always direct. Stickers let you leave your mark, no matter how temporary.
People often say that collectors are looking to hold onto a piece of history, and I think that’s spot on. There’s something about having a part of an artist’s journey in your hands, and in the end, collecting is personal, and it always will be.
Other News
We've been fixing up the Soi Books website, still a bit buggy, but you can now get a better sense of what we're up to.
And whilst you are there, check out our latest blog posts: "Key Takeaways from the Autumn Conference IPG" and "Notes on Bali Beer” and “Bali Football Stickers”.
Thanks as always for reading.