Exhibition Archive

Exhibition information

Hibiya Library and Museum special exhibition (in conjunction with Ginza Graphic Gallery) Shin Sobue + cozfish: Book Desig

January 23, 2016 - March 23, 2016

デザイン:祖父江慎
Design:Shin Sobue
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Ginza Graphic Gallery is currently closed for renovations. In 2016 it will relocate to Hibiya Library and Museum in Chiyoda-ku, where it will open with the exhibition "Shin Sobue + cozfish: Book Desig."
This exhibition explores the physical appeal of books through the book designs of Shin Sobue and his company, cozfish. With the emergence of digital devices such as smartphones, tablets and electronic readers, our reading environment seems to have changed drastically. In that context, the exhibition looks at the way in which books are made and, in following that process, explores the paper book's unique expressive power and the special enthusiasm and excitement contained within a book.
With books designed by Sobue and cozfish as examples, the trial and error processes through which the initial book concept and plan are realized--from book paper selection and construction to printing methods and bookbinding--are presented in all their diversity. The exhibition also takes a detailed look at the process of making new special editions of Natsume Soseki's Kokoro and I Am a Cat, novels familiar to most Japanese. Also exhibited are rare documents in Soseki's own hand, including his cover design for the binding of Kokoro and first edition galley proofs.
"The joy of things going wrong"is the focal point around which the design world of Shin Sobue and cozfish revolves and evolves. Welcome to their world!

Organized by Chiyoda City's Hibiya Library and Museum
Co-organized by DNP Foundation for Cultural Promotion

Exhibition period

January 23 (Sat.) - March 23 (Wed.), 2016
*Exhibits will change during this period.
Part 1, "cozf": January 23 - February 14
Part 2, "ish": February 16 - March 23
In Part 1, Natsume Soseki's own cover design for Kokoro is exhibited.
In Part 2, the secrets of I Am a Cat, which is currently under production, will be revealed!
Closed February 15 and March 21
Opening hours: 10:00 am-8:00 pm (closes at 7:00 pm Saturdays and 5:00 pm Sundays)

Place

Chiyoda City's Hibiya Library and Museum, 1st Floor Special Exhibition Room
1-4 Hibiya-Koen, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0012
Tel. 03-3502-3340 http://hibiyal.jp
Admission fees for the special exhibition: General admission, \300
University and high school students, \200
Admission free for residents of Chiyoda -ku, junior high school students and younger children, and persons with a Physical Disability Certificate plus one accompanying person

Associated events

A tour of the Dai Nippon Printing Company (DNP) factory with Shin Sobue
Date: February 2 (Tue.)
Time: 1:00 pm (meeting time) to 5:00 pm
Participation free of charge; reservation required
Participation limited to 30 persons
*Details will be posted on this page as soon as they are confirmed.

Dialogue: "A Wide-ranging Chat about Bookmaking"
Speakers: Shin Sobue and Yoshihisa Shirai (graphic designer)
February 18(Thur.), 6:30 - 8:00 pm

Tripartite conversation: "Behind the scenes of making Soseki books"
Speakers: Shin Sobue, Tomoka Watanabe (book editorial department, Iwanami Shoten [publisher]) and Kosaku Maeda (production department, Iwanami Shoten)
March 10(Thur.), 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Place: Hibiya Convention Hall (large hall), B1F Hibiya Library and Museum

Admission: \500 Reservation required
Admission limited to 200 persons (first-come-first-served basis)
Reservations: Hibiya Library and Museum
Reservations can be made by phone (03-3502-3340) or e-mail (college@hibiyal.jp), or in person at the Hibiya Library and Museum (first floor reception)

Shin Sobue

Graphic designer. Director of cozfish. Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1959. While a student at Tama Art University, Sobue started working part-time at Kousakusha in 1981, having been inspired by Kohei Sugiura; he subsequently left the university. As a student he was a member of the university manga club along with older students Kotobuki Shiriagari and Masahiko Kikuni. Sobue left Kousakusha in 1987. After working as art director at For Sale Corporation, which was founded by Yasushi Akimoto, he became independent in 1988 and founded cozfish in 1990. He has created book bindings and designs in various genres including the humanities, novels and manga. He has received attention for unconventional book designs--a notable example being a manga book by Sensha Yoshida--with elements such as intentionally out-of-order pages and diagonal cutting.
In recent years Sobue has also worked on the graphics and art direction of numerous exhibitions, including "Snoopy/Ever and Never: the art of Peanuts," "Evangelion Exhibition," "GeGeGe no Kitaro," and "Go Go Miffy/55 Years with Miffy"; and created unique exhibition-related goods bursting with distinctive flair.

Contact

Ginza Graphic Gallery, Ms.Ozawa 03-5568-8028