Boundaries

Maya Lin's "Boundaries" is much like her three-dimensional creations - austere, at once both subtle and direct, outwardly detached, and ultimately effective in evoking a deep emotional response from within the beholder rather than imposing an exterior sentiment. Lin, of course, first came to prominence two decades ago when, as an undergraduate architecture student, she won the prestigious design competition for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C. Her concept, popularly known as "The Wall," was fiercely criticized at that time for its radical departure from traditional memorial designs, yet from its unveiling in 1982 the Vietnam Veterans Memorial has been accorded widespread recognition for its profound aptness and - there is no better word - genius. Although Lin's work since that remarkable debut has been on a smaller physical scale, it continues to follow a line of imaginative external simplicity in use of shape and space, covertly deceptive in masking emotional complexity beneath. The title of the book is meant to express Lin's view that she and her creations inhabit the boundary between distinctly different qualities - architecture-art, natural-urban, inside-outside, Asian-American - simultaneously being neither and both."Boundaries" is not an autobiography. Maya Lin speaks through her architecture and her sculptures, and this book unwaveringly focuses upon that work and the creative process behind it. While the photographs in the volume are effective in presenting a broad impression of design and form, the real pictures are those drawn by Lin's words. For a visual artist, she has a rare appreciation of verbal power and substance. In fact, Maya Lin regards words as a vital basis for her designs, the reflection of her own background: her father was a ceramist and her mother a poet. As a physical object, the book itself has purposely been given a unique character to fittingly express Lin's artistic vision, occupying the boundary between "art book" and "reading book". The text literally begins on the inside front cover and spans the entirety of the volume, ending only on the inside back cover. Even the jacket has been incorporated as a harmonious, integral component of the whole. Like Lin's creations erected in public spaces and those fashioned in her studio, "Boundaries" is an exquisite embodiment of a meeting between restraint and stimulation.

beautiful book that helps you learn who Maya is and what she has accomplished and what she hopes to do I usd it for a presentation in a woman's biography group and everyone loved it and everyone wants to borrow it

Maya Lin's book 'Boundaries' is a well conceived and beautifully executed book on the artistic process. The detail in which she describes her thoughts and ideas crystalizing into artwork is very readable. None of the chapters are filled with hollow artistic philosophy as I often find in books on contemporary art and atistic processes. The overall design of the book is also quite stunning. Many photos from Lin's work and studio are included. She even goes as far as describing why the book has been created at a particular size. In my opinion, this is one of the best books I've ever read on artistic creation and process.

I love Maya's work and this book represents the great designer she is and how she approaches design.

Not really. Too many blank pages. The print is tiny and minimal. Her work is spectacular. The pictures did not make it justice. It could have been a gem, but it was rather, a simple rock.Perhaps that was the idea, and I simply missed the point. Who knows? bailene

great book. i started to get interested in her when she designed the viet nam vets memorial, an amazing piece. it is said that she redefined what a memorial is. not a bunch of soldiers posing. her memorial honors the dead but engages the viewer especially if one of the people is known to them.

A very interesting and well-written book. It inspired me to want to renew designing my own fantasy house.

Although this book only covers her earlier works, it gives a great insight into the fascinating way that Maya Lin approaches her work. A must-read for sculptors and architects alike.

Perfetto per chi sta leggendo o studiando il processo di "grieving" e la commemorazione in generale. Stampato su carta di ottima qualità, ne consiglio l'acquisto.