Overwhelming fascination governs my thoughts for the intricate Japanese graphic design volume
Ian Lynam's book, Fracture: Japanese Graphic Design 1875-1975, offers a comprehensive exploration of over a century of Japanese graphic design. This richly illustrated design history book serves as both a visual archive and a textbook, providing an extensive collection of printed matter, textiles, design ephemera, and historical materials spanning from Japan’s early graphic arts era through to the dawn of the digital age [3][4][5].
The book, now available for purchase on Amazon, delves into key themes such as modernity, imperialism, gender, commercialism, and identity, offering insight into how Japanese design evolved especially after Japan reopened to the West. It features diverse artifacts, including Art Deco kimono textiles, Japan’s earliest commercial art publications, the official design guidelines for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, pioneering feminist zines, and early LGBTQ+ mass-distributed magazines in Japan [3].
Ian Lynam, a designer and educator who has lived in Japan for two decades, initiated this project to fill a critical gap in design literature. Having realised there was no existing comprehensive book on Japanese graphic design, he felt compelled to create his own. The work took 15 years to complete, indicating an exhaustive research and curation process [3].
The book is part of a larger exhibition that transforms a gallery space into an “exploded book” environment. The exhibition showcases various artifacts, including a kimono with Art Deco surface designs and Japan's first commercial art publications. It also includes posters from unknown designers, giant multi-colour posters by renowned graphic designers like Yokoo Tadanori, and design guidelines for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics [3][5].
Ian expresses excitement about the diverse collection of designed artifacts displayed in the exhibition. He believes these artifacts contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of Japanese graphic design history. The exhibition also showcases some of Japan's first radical feminist and mass-distributed LGBTQIA+ publications, further enriching the narrative [3].
The exhibition, titled "Fracture: Japanese Graphic Design 1875-1975", takes place in Tokyo from 11-26 July [6]. For those unable to attend, Fracture serves as a beautiful object that Ian invites readers to explore, offering a unique insight into a century of creative evolution in Japan. It is significant for its groundbreaking and thorough documentation of Japanese graphic design history, providing both an authoritative academic resource and a visually compelling survey [3][4][5].
- The book, Fracture: Japanese Graphic Design 1875-1975, written by designer and educator Ian Lynam, offers a comprehensive exploration of over a century of colorful and diverse Japanese graphic design art.
- This richly illustrated design history book serves as both a visual archive and a textbook, featuring layouts of printed matter, textiles, design ephemera, and historical materials spanning from Japan’s early graphic arts era through to the dawn of the digital age.
- The book delves into key themes such as modernity, imperialism, gender, commercialism, and identity, providing insight into how Japanese design evolved especially after Japan reopened to the West.
- It features a variety of artifacts, including Art Deco kimono textiles, Japan’s earliest commercial art publications, the official design guidelines for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, pioneering feminist zines, and early LGBTQ+ mass-distributed magazines in Japan.
- The exhibition, titled "Fracture: Japanese Graphic Design 1875-1975", showcases these artifacts and more, including posters from unknown designers and giant multi-colour posters by renowned graphic designers like Yokoo Tadanori.
- The exhibition also reveals some of Japan's first radical feminist and mass-distributed LGBTQIA+ publications, enriching the narrative of Japanese graphic design history.
- For those unable to attend the exhibition, Fracture serves as a beautiful object that invites readers to explore a century of creative evolution in Japan, featuring UI, art, graphic design, illustration, and even 3d design elements.
- This book is not only a significant academic resource but also a visually compelling survey of the lifestyle, home-and-garden, books, and entertainment design trends in Japan during that period.
