size does matter...

THE BIG BOOK
poornachandra

A very special cargo entered the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan in the summer of 2004. Druk Air, the national carrier, transported this precious cargo with some difficulty because it wouldn’t fit easily into the tiny cabin of their aircraft. But it was a challenge well accomplished. This special shipment travelled far over land and ocean, beginning its journey in Massachusetts, USA. The eventful journey ended in the Land of the Thunder Dragon in the month of May, amid fanfare and celebration. The unique consignment consisted of two copies of the world’s largest published book, titled “Bhutan: A Visual Odyssey Across the Last Himalayan Kingdom.” A “big” book weighing 60.32 kilograms. One copy each was donated to the National Library in the capital Thimphu and Sherubtse College in Kanglung, Eastern Bhutan.

Opening a book is like opening a window to another world. True to these words, the Big Book opens to a size of 5 X 7 feet, nearly as big as a ping-pong table, offering us a kaleidoscopic view of brilliant colours. And what a view! Over a hundred pages, 112 to be exact, amounting to 2000 square feet of five-foot high images, illustrate the pristine beauty and glory of Bhutan and its people. According to common wisdom, one picture is worth a thousand words. In that context, what is on offer in this book is probably worth volumes of reading. The vivid portraits and breathtaking panoramas making up this visual odyssey were selected from an archive of 40000 images, a mix of film and digital photographs.

The making of the Big Book was an inspiring voyage, a labour of love for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) scientist Michael Hawley, who conceived and designed the book, and his team of photographers. Bhutan, often referred to as the “Last Shangri La”, is one of the world’s smallest and most extraordinary countries, nestled in the great Himalayas between India, Nepal and Tibet. Home to one of Earth’s best-preserved ecologies and cultures, this kingdom in the clouds is the fascinating subject for a unique publication, the largest published book acknowledged by Guinness World Records. Contrast this with the smallest known reproduction of the Bible, also made by MIT scientists, in 2001. Using microlithography, a process similar to that used in the manufacture of computer microchips, they reprinted the full New Testament text of the King James version of the Bible in 24 carat gold on a crystalline silicon tablet measuring just 5 x 5 mm (0.196 in x 0.196 in). Between the big and small of things, size does matter! It is definitely not a book to curl up with at bedtime - unless you plan to sleep on it. The Big Book displays Bhutan at its best – the grandeur of its gorgeous scenery, the wonderfully warm-hearted people there, and the serenity and specialness that make this kingdom exceptional.

Under an expeditionary program at MIT, teams from the acclaimed academic institution and Friendly Planet, a Cambridge-based non-profit charity devoted to education in developing regions, took four expeditions over four years across Bhutan collecting some 40000 photographs. These expeditions were intended, in part, to help push the technical frontiers of photography, as well as break new ground in sharing pictures. The idea for the book grew out of a desire to use scientific field expeditions to drive better photography. In Hawley’s words, “Every field team, from MIT geologists to the local Boy Scout troop, feels an obligation to collect and share the best possible record of their work, but photography can be a real annoyance on expeditions." Although digital photography has advanced tremendously in recent years, systems are still disorganized and most field teams can't accomplish a very complete visual documentation. Most of the records collected from a field expedition languish on an obscure shelf, gathering dust. Young students and staff members from MIT and the University of Washington, Bhutanese photographers and guides did the photography. The team flew by helicopter, rode mountain ponies, trekked with packhorses and yaks, and journeyed by caravan on far-flung roads and foot trails across the Bhutanese Himalayas. They were equipped with state-of-the-art photography equipment, both digital and film, to capture a collective portrait of this remote paradise. Imagery shot by the ensemble of photographers was GPS coded, captioned and stored on portable storage media on the spot.

Back in MIT, as the team explored their immense archive of images, Hawley hit upon the idea of showcasing the work in a giant book, letting readers experience the magic of the country firsthand. He thought they could allow readers to literally 'step into' this beautiful corner of the world - one that only a few fortunate people will be blessed to visit. All the photographs are being donated to Bhutan to form a national image treasury for the country. In addition to the photographs, the Big Book includes a hand drawn atlas of the kingdom of Bhutan and some of its landmarks by renowned artist and author David Macaulay. Detailed sketches surround the enormous map, as if torn from a master illustrator’s travel sketchbook. It is the opening-end page of the book, and sets the stage for the picturesque journey that follows.

Realising the idea of the Big Book was challenging for a number of reasons. It required designing a whole new production process and a giant bookshelf. Each page image is nearly two gigabytes in size, stretching the limits of what computers and printers can normally handle. Each copy of the book uses a roll of paper considerably longer than a football field and requires more than a gallon of ink and 24 hours printing time, all accomplished with the magic of modern technology. The result is a visual and technological magnum opus. The spectacular imagery loosely follows the progress of the expeditions across Bhutan, conveying the stunning sweep of the kingdom’s mountainous landscape and its ancient architecture. Photos of awesomely colourful dance festivals and exciting treks into the high mountains are interspersed with scenes of Bhutanese daily life. Going through the book is a visceral experience, comparable to viewing David Brashears’ IMAX movie on the ascent of Everest.

“Bhutan”, the Big Book, is an extremely limited edition publication, the MIT deciding to print about 500 copies. Each volume with an innovative fan-fold archival binding will be produced on demand and made available to patrons who make a $10000 gift. For lesser donations, there are fine art prints and a smaller but no less beautiful book. So far the MIT has been able to sell about 75 copies. The proceeds of the sale of the book’s copies will be used to fund educational programs in Bhutan. For schools, libraries, museums, private collectors, and lovers of great books, this may be the ultimate inspiration. For the team behind the book, the aim is to enable young people to share a beautiful corner of their world with others. They see it as a small beginning towards a big objective, bringing together a Friendly Planet. Technology was pushed hard for a higher purpose, and the images give a taste of an inspiring way of life in a truly special part of the world.

A book is the paper memory of mankind, goes an old saying. Viewing the Big Book is an overwhelming visual experience that is sure to translate into a long-lasting memory. It is beauty of truly massive proportions. And as Francis Bacon said, “There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in proportion.”

2005