Obvious State is a creative studio, their artwork and goods are inspired by beautiful language that has stood the test of time, poetry that stretches the imagination, and philosophy that prompts us to think deeply. Obvious State takes snippets of text from literature, philosophy, and poetry as inspiration for a visual response and illustration. 

“What am I doing here in this endless winter?” – Franz Kafka

From his short, surrealist story, A Country Doctor. Although he died over a century ago, Kafka’s novels and short stories predicted our modern alienation. The nameless, faceless, oppressive bureaucracies of The Trial and The Castle had the power to distort truth and perception, but never with the efficiency and thrall of the funhouse mirror we call “the internet.”

“But there’s no evil moustache-twirling villain controlling the internet! It’s all just a decentralized experiment that we willingly choose to participate in.”

All the better. Surely somewhere from the beyond, Kafka is slow-clapping.

In the illustration, Obvious State imagine an umbrella made of code, being used as a shield against the outside world. A solitary figure wonders when the digital winter will end, not recognizing that a bright, beaming sun rises just on the other side. 

Product Details:

• Cover: 18pt recycled chipboard made from recycled content & books
• 32 college ruled sheets, uncoated 70# paper
• Pocket sized: 3.5 x 5 inches
• Saddle stitched with matching black staples
• Made in US in partnership with Scout Books.

You can shop the collection here.