Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on November 2012
Beloved the world over for his psychedelic posters and paintings, Tadanori Yokoo got his start as a graphic designer and illustrator in the ’60s and ’70s. “The First Book Design Exhibition” presents Yokoo’s earliest outings, including covers he did for some of Japan’s most influential creatives such as for photographer Eikoh Hosue’s book on controversial novelist Yukio Mishima. But even Yokoo’s more prosaic manga covers such as one for Shonen Magazine show a flair for typography and drawing. This show provides a window into his creative process through sketches, paste-ups and proof sheets as well as completed books. Published concurrently is a special edition of Yokoo Theatre: Tadanori Yokoo’s Performance, Film, and Concert Posters.
