Friday, May 24, 2019

Turbulator Workshop, Rambo Mambo Cha Cha, Le Dernier Cri: Marseilles, 2019, ed. 100.


Another beauty from Le Dernier Cri in the square format, with two six-page accordions springing out from the spine, and covers with extra flaps. I have no idea who the "Turbulator Workshop" are, but it doesn't really matter, because it can't stop me from enjoying this madcap assault on the senses!

Two 6 page double-sided accordions, each 8.5"(h) by 8.5"(w) when opened 2ft 1.5".  


front and back covers

front covers with their flaps opened up








I found this photo on Le Dernier Cri's website and it shows this book in the process of being printed

Mathieu Desjardins, Noyaux, Le Dernier Cri: Marseilles, 2019, ed. 150.


Another total riot of a publication from the guys at Le Dernier Cri, with this book by Mathieu Desjardins confirming their well deserved reputation for serving up off the wall and edgy artists' publications. The book consists of two accordions that spring out from the spine of the book when opened, coupled with the covers with flaps, all immaculately presented in this 7 color silkscreen print job — this is just a fireball of a publication.

An active part of the fanzine culture, Desjardins lives and works in Bordeaux, France.

Two six-page double-sided accordions with individual pages 8.75"(h) by 8.75"(w) and when opened 2ft 2.25". 









back covers with inside flaps

Hedi Kyle and Ulla Warchol, The Art of the Fold, Laurence King Publishing: London, 2018.


This is absolutely one of the best books I've come across for illustrating and explaining how to make all sorts of folded books. Beautifully photographed, and cleanly laid out, it introduces the reader to a plethora of different folded book structures, and is accompanied with clear and concise directions for making them!

Barnes and Noble, and Amazon have it new for about $20 — what are you waiting for...





Michalis Pichler, The Ginza Strip, Kodoji Press: Berlin, Tokyo, 2018


This is a rather interesting book and it has a unique position within the larger history of artists' books. According to the publisher's blurb: 

"In 1954 Japanese writer and artist Shohachi Kimura published GINZA HACCHO, with photographs by Yoshikazu Suzuki of every building on Ginza Street in Tokyo as an accordion foldout book. Twelve years later, Ed Ruscha published EVERY BUILDING ON THE SUNSET STRIP (1966) in almost exactly the same style. While the latter has become a touchstone of conceptual publications and artists’ books, its predecessor remains largely unknown.

Appropriating Shohachi Kimura’s work, Michalis Pichler’s accordion-folded book opens up to a fourteen-foot strip of photographs of every building on the Ginza Street of today, each building identified by a street number. Crossroads are also identified with captions. Photographed from a car driving past, the individual photos were then pasted together to make the long accordion fold. Paper joins are visible throughout the book. Pichler’s version offers a modern update, depicting Ginza street in contemporary Tokyo, where the facades are dominated by glamorous high-end global fashion and luxury brands mixed with local heavyweights."

Tokyo's Ginza strip is now known as one of the world's most luxurious shopping districts with the most famous fashion houses and iconic brands. 

As an aside to the above, when I came across this book online I rather excitedly misread the title as "Every Building on the Gaza Strip," and only upon its arrival did I discover my misreading of the title — however, wouldn't it make a great book, and if there's a Palestinian collaborator from the Gaza Strip out there, I might be interested!!

29 pages, with slipcase, single-sided, 7"(h) by 5.5"(w), opened 13ft 3.5".