Kinfolk #59
228 x 295 mm, 176 pages
Copenhagen, Denmark
Quarterly, since 2011
Editor-in-chief: John Burns
Art director: Isabel Lea
Design: Alex Hunting
Kinfolk has become so familiar that it’s hard to imagine just how radical its minimal, proto-mindfulness, clean lines and clean living aesthetic was when it first appeared back in 2011. This edition, themed ‘Clean’, arrives in time for spring and resonates with the season’s associations of rebirth and renewal, exploring the literal pursuit of cleanliness, whilst also considering its cultural, emotional, and philosophical connotations.
The issue commences with a section subtitled ‘starters’, including a guide to cleansing your algorithm, a pithy reflection on why today’s music charts need a refresh, and an etymological dissection of the Norwegian tradition of ‘Dugnad’, associated with help and assistance. Elsewhere, Celine Nguyen asks, ‘How clean do we really need to be?’, examining cleanliness as everything from an act of faith to a cultural signifier, while a photo essay starring household cleaning appliances makes reference to the ‘Ship of Theseus’—a thought experiment that asks whether an object remains the same once all of its parts have been replaced. Also in conversation: Holly Whitaker on rethinking drinking and British musician Jessie Ware on the art of multitasking.
Plus, flick to the back of the issue for a conversation with Leonard Koren, looking back at his iconic underground magazine Wet, which ceased publishing in 1981.