Dimensions
220 x 280 x 25mm
Tanaka Ikko (b.1930 in Nara) is one of the established masters of graphic design. His work draws together influences from both East and West, acknowledging the vocabulary of European Modernism while remaining characteristically Japanese. Inspired by sources as diverse as traditional Japanese illustration techniques and his passion for American jazz, Tanaka is internationally renowned for his cultural posters and programmes for theatre and ballet, many for the Kanze No Theatre.
This book examines Tanaka's entire oeuvre, from the late 1950s to today, encompassing graphic design, art direction and interior design. Gian Carlo Calza's essay analyses the development of Tanaka's work over the last few decades, and sets his work in context of Japanese art and design. Tanaka's work is then presented in four sections, each one addressing a different aspect of his career: Japan Style, Typography, Theatre and Art, and Communication Today. A concluding section comprises a critical anthology, with contributions from many of the world's leading commentators on graphic design, together with a biography of the designer and a bibliography.
