magRush2013: Aortica #2

Aortica weighs in at a solid 302 pages, wrapped in a heavy rough card cover with blind embossed title (above).

Following its debut issue about Frankfurt eighteen months ago, this second issue looks at the creative scene around Auckland, New Zealand. The German-based couple behind the magazine, Mone and Piero Borsellino, spent six weeks in the city compiling material that could, they claim, have filled 600 pages. As promised, this issue is written in English rather than German.

Strongly designed again, the mood of the issue is subtly different, reflecting Auckland’s coastal position – more seascapes and better light! Otherwise the issue treads familiar ground: interviews with local creatives (Auckland apparently has one of the concentration of creative companies in the Southern hemisphere), plenty of local photography, a travelogue section, and work, work and more work. Illustration, photography and text blend together in a relaxed way that repays regular flicking.

As Steve noted recently, there’s a few magazines adding a spin to the travel mag at the moment. Aortica is definitely one of the more intriguing ones. Next up, Sicily apparently.