Shigeo Fukuda: Arts Know-How by Fukuda Shigeo - 1977

Offering: An exceptional presentation embellished for Paul Rand. Memorializing their longstanding friendship, it alternates lines in Japanese and English and in red and black inks and is decorated with a line drawing of two mingled hearts, one red, one black. Paul Rand was instrumental in arranging Shigeo Fukuda's first United States solo exhibition, "Toys and Things Japanese" (1967). The book is an early illustrated survey of Shigeo Fukuda's art and design work including graphic designs, visual illusions, toys, and sculptures and emphasizes the representation of visual ideas within the context of art history with its format of historical precedents, followed by examples of Fukuda's work. Rarity: Now Scarce. A worldwide catalog search finds institution holdings in the United States at Yale and Cornell, and in Japan at the National Diet Library and 110 other institutions. Condition: Pages: fresh and clean / Boards: top edge with light dings, otherwise fine / Binding: Fine / Jacket: clean with rubs and some light edgewear / Publisher's Bookmark: worn at fold-over. Pagination: Complete; 134 pages, profusely illustrated with captioned black and white reproductions, with introduction, text divided into 30 chapters, afterword, and exhibition history to 1977. Chapters include: altered heads, altered portraits, decorated initials using human forms, advertising posters and circulars, transformed objects, and a closing section on Fukuda's celebrated handmade toys. Edition Note: The series subtitle is: Aidea no eremento : atarashii dezain no tame no shikaku genre to sono hyogen (Elements of the visual idea, principles and representations for new design). Format: Publisher's flexible sewn boards and pictorial book jacket, illustrated in color on the upper side with Fukuda's best known poster, "Victory 1945", the gold medal prize winner at the 1975 Warsaw International Poster Biennale. SIZE: 262 mm (10.32 inches). Shigeo Fukuda [1932-2009]: Protean and humorous, he executed striking works in many different media. In interviews he emphasized the value of these qualities, associated with childhood and so often overlooked and dismissed, stating, "play is the very essence of my work." Shigeo Fukuda became widely known in the design world and gained international prominence through a series of exceptional showings, first in 1966 at a Czechoslovakian graphic design competition, and then in 1967, when his poster designs were exhibited for Japan at the Montreal Expo and his first solo exhibition in the United States, "Toys and things Japanese" was held at the IBM Gallery, curated by Paul Rand. The 120 handcrafted wooden objects with their abiding ties to Japanese culture could variously be described, as toys, puzzles or sculptures. Many were originally created as playthings for his daughter. Some could be alternatively assembled, such as the beautiful "Birdtree" that could be constructed to become a bird, or a tree. From 1972, he was a frequent gold medalist at international poster exhibitions for illusionist designs advocating peace and protection of the environment. He is often referred to as an illusion artist because his designs, installations and altered art play with perspective and shift to other forms. But his vision has a larger purpose, for by their very nature, such designs foster consideration of alternative perspectives and our movement in being through space and time. His influential text, "Visual Illusion" was published in 1982. In 1987, Shigeo Fukuda was the first designer from Japan to be inducted into the New York Art Directors Club Hall of Fame. Additional Images: by request.