Tiki Style (Icons) [Paperback]

Sven Kirsten (Author), A Volk (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2004 | Series: Icons

This enlightening and hilarious guide casts the reader as an "urban archaeologist," exploring the lost remnants of the Tiki culture across the United States and discovering relics from this forgotten civilization in thrift stores, yard sales, and used book and record emporia. A combination of nostalgia and fascinating pop-cultural study, this book delves head first into the fabulously tacky yesteryear world of Tiki.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Taschen (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3822839191
• ISBN-13: 978-3822839195
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #987,560 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sven Kirsten is the author of the "Book of Tiki", widely acknowledged as the bible of the style, and "Tiki Modern", which further explores Tiki style's relation to mid-century modernism. Sven was born in the the German port town of Hamburg in 1955. His childhood impressions gathered at Hagenbeck's Zoo, at the Hamburg Anthropology Museum, and the sailors' bars of the St. Pauli red light district left him with a longing for distant shores, and in 1980 he emigrated to California. Here he continued his career in the film industry (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0457032/#cinematographer) by studying at the San Francisco Art Institute and the American Film Institute. He left the AFI to join the vibrant music video production scene in Los Angeles in the 1980s, photographing music videos for such diverse talents as Tom Waits, Sergio Mendes, Billy Joel and The Cramps.

It was this love for visuals that inspired Sven to collect and photograph the remnants of the forgotten culture of Polynesian pop in America, leading him to identify the Tiki as its icon. As a hunter and gatherer of lost artifacts and ephemera of this phenomenon, he began to see the pattern of a unique art form, and decided to publish his findings in the "Book of Tiki" in September 2000. For the first time, the book presented all the aspects of Tiki style, its design, graphics, architecture, social culture and cocktail mixology, proving that it had been an art form in its own right, a fact which had not been recognized in its heyday. The book put Tiki firmly on the map of American pop culture, and is regarded as the standard work on the style. As it began to inspire a Tiki revival, Kirsten lectured, wrote and advised on Tiki culture in the United States and in Polynesia.

In 2007 Sven followed suit with his second book, "Tiki Modern", in which he concentrated on the juxtaposition of Pop primitivism and mid-century modernism, a key element of Tiki style. In 2010 he published his first music compilation, "The Sound of Tiki", a CD album with a 50 page booklet putting the songs into context with Tiki culture, to be enjoyed in conjunction with his books.

While regularly working as a cinematographer on German TV movies in such international locations as Capetown, St. Petersburg, Paris and Prague, Sven uses his off time at his home in Los Angeles to work on new book projects, such as the upcoming "The Look of Tiki", a treatise on the mid-century modern Aloha shirt. Sven also advises on new Tiki restaurants being built, curates Tiki exhibitions, and designs Tiki mugs, such as the new Bahooka restaurant signature mug.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A family-friendly intro book to Tiki, September 30, 2005

By 

E. Lang "I dream of tiki" (South Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tiki Style (Icons) (Paperback)

In much defense of "Tiki Style", this book is really about making a conservative friendly,nudity free version of the Book Of Tiki so it could be sold in retail locations like Old Navy. It has most of the same lovely photos sans bare breast and wooden phalluses.

The book itself is slightly larger than a pocket size book. Its inexpensive, which make it a great gift and/or introductory book to show others without fear of damage to one's copy of the Book of Tiki. Guilt free.

This book is more of a tool for those already beholding of tiki and a photographic intro for those just starting to learn the imagery of this era of Americana pop culture.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Simply an edited version of Sven's 'Book of Tiki', September 9, 2005

By 

Ripped Off - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tiki Style (Icons) (Paperback)

I was looking forward to reading this book as I throughly enjoyed Kirsten's 'Book of Tiki' and the synopsis of this book led me to believe it was a new work by Sven Kirsten. I was quite dismayed to find that 'Tiki Style' simply appears to take 18 of the 23 chapters in Kirsten's 'Book of Tiki' , cut out a good portion of the chapters' accompanying photos along with their captions, and reprint them under a new title. I could not find a single image or line of text in this book that hasn't been directly copied over from 'Book of Tiki' (even the chapter titles remain the same). This book's only saving grace is the price makes it an affordable alternative for anyone who can't get their hands on a copy of 'Book of Tiki'. However, if you already own 'Book of Tiki' you'd be wise to stay away from this one.

5.0 out of 5 stars Small book packs a big punch, July 26, 2009

By 

James D. Crabtree "Doc Crabtree" (Fort Leavenworth, Kansas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tiki Style (Icons) (Paperback)

This book is packed with photos of artifacts from the golden age of the Tiki subculture, a psuedo-South Seas phenomenon which reached its height in the late 1950s and 1960s. Like most Taschen books it is well-illustrated and discusses the subject matter in enough depth to give the reader a good feel. A good reference book for collectors or decorators!