Intuitive Alphabet

Intuitive Alphabet is, literally, a gift from the sea, like life itself. Michele Oka Doner grew up in Miami Beach combing the sand for treasures – shells, stones, coral – that formed her own alphabet well before she knew how to read. In this book, an homage to that world of discovery, the renowned artist shows us the glyphic forms embedded in the treasures she has collected during a lifetime of walks on the beach. Intuitive Alphabet is both an artist’s book and, yes, an alphabet book, one that conveys a profound message about looking and seeing. On an even deeper level, Intuitive Alphabet offers insights into the ways in which language has evolved and is learned. Minimal text, handwritten by the artist, is paired with photographs of sea objects that represent forms, such as ‘A is for Animal,’ and ‘S is for Spiral.’ The result is a thoroughly original, evocative, and thought-provoking work that underscores the connection between humans and nature.