According to the Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, nearly 200 new book titles are published every day, bringing the total number of books published annually to 68,608 (based on statistics for 2020). It has been a long time since people started using the Web instead of paper, but when we look at the numbers like this, we see that a tremendous number of books are coming and going in the world every day. The books we pass by in bookstores and libraries are just the tip of the iceberg. Since we will never be able to read all of them, we should choose only the most interesting ones. And that book should be a very special one.
Japan's first book fair specializing in art publishing, which began in 2009.tokyo art book fairArtists and publishers who create unique art books, catalogs, artist books, zines, etc. will gather at the "Art Book Festival" to present their special titles. The scale of the event is one of the largest in Asia. This year, the "TOKYO ART BOOK FAIR 2022 (TABF 2022)" was held over the last four days of October (October 27-30), and the number of visitors from overseas, which had been on the decline for the past two years due to the Corona disaster, returned, with about 200 exhibitors from Japan and abroad setting up booths The number of exhibitors from Japan and abroad, which had been on the decline for the past two years due to the Corona disaster, returned.
Although the limited time we had to visit the exhibition meant that we could only pick up a few books, all of them were special books with a great deal of attention to detail. As we made our way around the venue, nodding our heads to the passionate art book talks by exhibitors and smiling at the explanations sometimes given in English, we felt like saying out loud that books are so free and good, and that a place with books is so much fun.
The following is a report on TABF 2022 with scenes captured by the reporting team.
The title logo, which appears when the cardboard is peeled off, has a distinctive paper texture that cannot be achieved digitally. While this banner waiting at the entrance is a print, the signs at each booth are actually made of three layers of cardboard, and the letters are peeled off to reveal themselves. The art director of this exhibition, Yoshihisa Tanaka, created these signs.
."Yvon LambertOne of the main attractions of TABF 2022 "Guest Country" is an exhibition by the artist, who has been a leading figure in the French contemporary art scene since 1967, and now operates a more intimate space with a bookstore, exhibition space, and publishing house in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris. Yvon Lambert A look back at the activities of Yvon Lambert is like taking a look at the history of the French art book scene.
The current publishing program of "Yvon Lambert" consists primarily of poetry collections, photography books, and prints. The photo is a drawing of a work by the artist couple Christo & Jeanne-Claude.
〈Walls all over the wallagnès b.This publication was born in 1997 out of a conversation between Agnès Bé, contemporary artist Christian Boltanski, and contemporary art curator Hans-Urich Obrist. Approximately 100,000 copies of this free art paper are distributed in museums, galleries, bookstores, and agnès b. stores around the world.
A highly specialized selection of books is lined up in unique fixtures modeled after the "bouquinistes" found on the banks of the Seine in Paris. Bukinistes" are stalls that sell secondhand books, posters, and postcards, and are one of the most popular features of Paris. Connoisseurs and specialists in various genres selected the hottest French art books, zines, posters, and other items to express the diversity and individuality of French art books.
The "Kids' Reading Room," TABF's first content for children, is one of the most comfortable spaces in the exhibition. In addition to playful and original French picture books that invite children and adults to the joy of reading, there are also picture books by Japanese authors. The original "ART BOOK VENDING MACHINE" is also a nice touch!
When the stamps are pressed, French words related to water and rain appear. The workshop corner by artist David Horvitz is simple but poetic.
This book is a collection of watercolor paintings of monsters based on Japanese ukiyo-e prints as a source of inspiration. The book's childish worldview is skillfully expressed through a picture-book-like cover design.
Tom Fellner "Monster Drawings" (edition fink) ¥4,800-
Four Swiss-based publishers, including "edition fink", which publishes the above collection (edition fink, ,Boabooks, ,Jungle Books, ,tria publishing platformA store card for Fair Enough, an art book promotion and distribution cooperative consisting of two organizations (Fair Enough, Inc. and Fair Enough, Inc.) that was launched in 2017 and takes turns participating in art book fairs that are in disarray around the world. The naming is great, with even a critical stance.
English and other foreign languages are spoken here and there, giving the EXHIBITION SPACE a rich international flavor. Visitors can enjoy reading books and forgetting about time with the many titles that are not easily seen in Japan.
The artist created this book during a time of reflection brought on by the Corona disaster. The book is a collage of 22 tarot cards, created using a collage technique that incorporates elements of sewing and embroidery. In addition to the beautiful images of each card, the book's binding, which the artist himself handled, shows a sense of beauty in every detail.
Julia Borissova, "Alchemist Tarot Book" (Self published) ¥34,000-
Handled by Kanazawa ".IACK (IACK)by "The Bookshop". This bookshop exhibits, sells, and distributes collections of domestic and international works, mainly contemporary photography, and is a must-visit destination when visiting Kanazawa.
An art book selected by Bottega Veneta himself for TABF was on display, and the brand's worldview was presented through the book. Visitors were also given, on a first-come, first-served basis, a photobook of the "WINTER 22" campaign visuals (consisting of two volumes, including never-before-seen visuals).
ZINE'S MATE" on the B2 basement floor is also the title of the first "TOKYO ART BOOK FAIR" held in 2009. With a desire to return to the starting point, new exhibitors were actively recruited and gathered to try their hand at making books in a rough but experimental manner.
Photographer.Susumu HamadaMr., Painter'sMasayoshi SuzukiThe "BY ONE PRESS" booth, by Mr. Suzuki Sean Schowske, artist, participated by filling a table with new titles. The blue book, "Ringing Special A Line," in the lower right of the photo, is their first written work.
ZINE'S MATE" floor is a "What's that? Book Fair? You might think, "What is this? This is a plate with a print of Leonardo DiCaprio. Details are unknown.
Found at the "SPACE PAPER" booth was artistMoriyama TaichiThe title of the work is "Time and Space Focus of Time and Space. The title is "Focus of time and space.
A collection of photographs by Mai Spring, which has no title in sight. The film was found in the belongings of her deceased grandmother, developed over a long gap of time, and expressed as a collection of photographs. (Self Published) ¥4,300-.
The unexpected color transitions resulting from the film's deterioration over time are beautiful.
which dealt with the above collection of works, "LAVENDER OPENER CHAIRThe "KHONKA KLUB" booth will also feature a lineup of "KHONKA KLUB" pin badges. These badges are based on the motifs of bands and other subcultural icons, but they are actually called "quality boot" items, which are made using a bold method of obtaining a sales license due to their high quality after receiving a warning from the publisher for unauthorized commercialization.
Photo_Yusuke Kajitani
Text&Edit_Jun Asami
