The book Art Forms in Nature is a collection of prints, made by the scientist Ernst Haeckel, of an enormous variety of flora and fauna from the sea-including microscopic Radiolaria, starfish and jelly fish-and since Prestel published it in 1998, it has been a favourite with artists, designers, illustrators and anyone who enjoys the wondrous forms of the natural world. Now paper engineer Maike Biederstaedt has transformed Haeckel's transcendent work into a three-dimensional book that allows readers to appreciate Haeckel's vivid colours, exceptional precision and fascination with patterns and geometry. This stunning book features seven pop-ups that allow readers to see nature's brilliance the way that Haeckel did – as marvellous, mathematically based creations that support his theory of the unity of all living things. Certain to appeal to his huge variety of fans, this pop-up version of a timeless classic will be treasured for years to come.
Maike Biederstadt is a pop-up designer, illustrator and paper engineer, who lives in Berlin.