Russian Alphabet Colouring Book

Description

This alphabet colouring book for all ages marks the first publication of the graphic works of Russian artist Amanita. His fantastical images form a unique world - they are like modern variations of illustrated manuscripts, packed full with elements of Soviet and post-Soviet cultures. The book also works as an introduction to the Russian alphabet. Every drawing depicts a word beginning with each letter from the Cyrillic alphabet, also shown in English, giving a light-hearted guide as to how the letters look and sound. The subjects of his illustrations are wide ranging - from political leaders: Lenin, Gorbachev; to inanimate objects: Tupolev aircraft, Sputnik; via Tsars, cosmonauts and Constructivism - these classic Soviet themes are interwoven from one page to the next, all rendered in an abundance of detail. His amazing and skillful images define a previously unimagined graphic landscape that takes the humble colouring book into a new dimension. This is a perfect gift book.

Alexander Erashov was born in Ermak, Kazakhstan in 1972. The pseudonym Amanita (a red and white-spotted mushroom) is in reference to the black-white-red palette of his artworks.

Amanita's work is mesmerising, not only for his phenomenal craftsmanship with ink, but also for its wry political humour in the vast context of Soviet history.--Thomas Heatherwick "British Designer and founder of Heatherwick"