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Book Review: High Voltage Tattoo by Kat Von D, photography by Lionel Deluy
Title: High Voltage Tattoo
Author: Kat Von D
Photographer: Lionel Deluy
Published: New York: Collins Design, 2009
Rating: 4 of 5
Page Count: 175
Total Page Count: 86,014
Text Number: 247
Read Because: interest in Kat Von D after watching LA Ink, borrowed from the library
Short Review: High Voltage Tattoo is a beautiful book. Full gloss and full color, it forgoes the usual style of a biography for something closer to a coffee table book. Sometimes this tends towards excess: Deluy's crisp photos are sometimes Hollywood-slick (and Photoshopped), and the typography occasionally trades readability in for beauty. On the whole the book is a visual delight, lush and luxurious—but imperfect.
Similarly, High Voltage Tattoo's content indulges but never quite surpasses expectations. Putting full paragraphs to things only summarized or glimpsed in the show LA Ink provides a more intimate look into Kat's art, and a biography and list of inspirations, along with multiple details scattered throughout the book (the highlight may be a directory of Kat's own tattoos), gives a small glimpse into Kat herself. Fans will find an intriguing amount of detail and background information to appreciate. But the writing style leaves something to be desired, and sections on Kat's body of tattoo work (portraits, sleeves, lettering, etc.) seem brief. High Voltage Tattoo doesn't quite go above and beyond: it's thoughtful, beautiful, and a priveledge to read for those intrigued by Kat Von D and her art, but it feels short and fails to offer all the depth that a reader might desire. Nonetheless, I recommend it.
Review posted here on Amazon.com.
Author: Kat Von D
Photographer: Lionel Deluy
Published: New York: Collins Design, 2009
Rating: 4 of 5
Page Count: 175
Total Page Count: 86,014
Text Number: 247
Read Because: interest in Kat Von D after watching LA Ink, borrowed from the library
Short Review: High Voltage Tattoo is a beautiful book. Full gloss and full color, it forgoes the usual style of a biography for something closer to a coffee table book. Sometimes this tends towards excess: Deluy's crisp photos are sometimes Hollywood-slick (and Photoshopped), and the typography occasionally trades readability in for beauty. On the whole the book is a visual delight, lush and luxurious—but imperfect.
Similarly, High Voltage Tattoo's content indulges but never quite surpasses expectations. Putting full paragraphs to things only summarized or glimpsed in the show LA Ink provides a more intimate look into Kat's art, and a biography and list of inspirations, along with multiple details scattered throughout the book (the highlight may be a directory of Kat's own tattoos), gives a small glimpse into Kat herself. Fans will find an intriguing amount of detail and background information to appreciate. But the writing style leaves something to be desired, and sections on Kat's body of tattoo work (portraits, sleeves, lettering, etc.) seem brief. High Voltage Tattoo doesn't quite go above and beyond: it's thoughtful, beautiful, and a priveledge to read for those intrigued by Kat Von D and her art, but it feels short and fails to offer all the depth that a reader might desire. Nonetheless, I recommend it.
Review posted here on Amazon.com.