Penguin Random House New Zealand
Award for Best Illustrated Book 2024
Finalist
Designer: Arch MacDonnell, Inhouse
Title: The Lost Hours
Publisher: Six Point Press
Format: 232 x 170mm, 312pp, exposed binding. The book is two volumes with two covers (Day/Night, Image/Text) – flipped and bound.
Typography: Martina Plantijn
Söhne Mono
As well as formal typesetting the book’s cover draws on the unique handwritten style of John Reynolds with his signature oil stick scrawl.
“The project involves framing and documenting a series of paintings and
collected associated writings from John Reynolds’ “Lost Hours” project. This idiosyncratic investigation delves into the mysterious 28-hour disappearance of Colin McCahon, a renowned New Zealand artist, in autumn 1984. The event occurred on the eve of McCahon’s major retrospective launch at the Sydney Biennale.
Objective:
• Frame and document Reynolds’ series of paintings.
• Collect and compile writings associated with the “Lost Hours” project.
• Present an artistic and literary investigation of McCahon’s lost hours.
Significance: This project not only pays homage to McCahon but also
explores themes of time, memory, and the impact of dislocation on artistic consciousness.”
Judges’ comments This book is a delicate and intricate immersive marvel — like a work of art in itself. With four different colour covers and an exposed binding that splits the volumes into day and night, it captures the disorienting yet captivating journey of Colin McCahon’s 28 lost hours. The design pushes boundaries, with mixed media, bold margins, and a confident form that invites the reader to explore or retrace their steps. The cover, with its silver screen-printed type on black, adds a mysterious allure, while the interior’s meticulous colour reproduction and classic typography pairings elevate it to another level.
