Post #530475 by Baron von Tiki on Sun, May 16, 2010 12:25 AM

Since I'm new to Tiki and only have a few items in my collection, I'll just list what I have:

Book: Tiki Modern by Sven Kirsten
Book: Tiki Style by Sven Kirsten
Martin Denny: Quiet Village/Enchanted Sea CD
A fistful of Capitol Records' "Ultra Lounge" CDs
Tiki Magazine subscription

Of these items, I'd say the essential one is Tiki Modern. Tiki Modern illustrates very well how Tiki and Witco fits into the Mid-Century zeitgeist and the aesthetic of the Modern art movement. I smiled when I saw the cover to the classic Dave Brubeck Quartet album "Time Out" used as an example. To me, Brubeck's music, coupled with the album cover, coalesces the spirit of the time into one tangible object. Sure, the album itself isn't Tiki; But I think it does represent the roots which supported the Tiki craze. Without the high-brow under-pinnings at the time, Tiki might only have been a short-lived fad.

So, since my degree is in Graphic Design, Tiki Modern punches all my academic buttons. Plus, with its wonderful graphic design and layout, and its sturdy construction, the book is an art object itself. As such, I'm looking forward to the day when I can track down a mint copy of its sister book, The Book of Tiki. to replace my copy of Tiki Style.