The Thousands

We propose a requiem for all the things that have disappeared with the advent of the digital era. To the secret language of shorthand (or handwriting in general), killed by the Dictaphone. Painting, lost to photography and CCTV; food to eating disorders, friends to Facebook. Not to mention the humble photocopier and the zines it can be credited for perpetuating. In saying sayonara to chopping down trees for biodegradable paper, we’ve got monthly new computer models to add to landfill and greenhouse gas instead!

Luckily, there are some places that have refused to euthanise the art of the humble pamphlet of wit and whimsy in favour of the unheard blog and Japan’s Not Pillar Books is one of them. Not limited to a single era, NPB gives computer literacy a chance and Google Translate its moment by making it all available online. Not only are there zines about Sexy Sesame Street, Chanel and iPhones, there is also art you can wear in the form of t-shirts. You remember those don’t you? Those cute emblems of self-expression that preceded UV onesies and PVC surgical masks.