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Yuko Shimizu’s Alphabet Book

Joshua Lurie-Terrell on November 16, 2004

As part of her graduate studies, Yuko Shimizu bound these drawings together as a book. How common is the “alphabet book” device as a portfolio or art object on its own? This is the first adult version I’ve seen — of course children’s bookshops are full of such things.

9 Comments

  1. Bob Davis, Esq. says:

    Excellent! Nicely kinky. Check out the Sushi Girl paintings too. Hmmm.

  2. Jordan Winick says:

    I saw some of these when they were up on the wall in an exhibition in black and white – really fantastic work.

  3. Hrant says:

    He’s having trouble finding a publisher?! Hard to believe – this is really good stuff. My favorites were the egg holders and the Ultimate Unity pair.

    hhp

  4. Hrant says:

    I just realized he’s a she – what a nice surprise.

    hhp

  5. trickypup says:

    I like the sexy knitter for the letter X.

    I’m going to channel that look while I churn away through the next few knitting projects I have on the go. Just so I don’t let the knitting make me feel old before my time.

  6. Yuko Shimizu says:

    Wow thank you so much for your encouraging comments! It was nice you post my work up on your site although my alphabet book was not exactly typography (except for A girl and Z boy for cover). I am getting more interested in hand-type (which a great book just got published by Steve Heller and Mirko Ilic). I think I will work on new type-as-drawing in future…
    Thanks again!

  7. Our pleasure, Yuko. We seek all things of beauty — if we have to stretch to make it relate to typography, we’ll do it. Thank you for commenting, we love to have the subjects of our posts take part in the discussion.

    Your comics are excellent as well. Everyone should check out Sweater for Siamese Twins. The layout of page two is awesome.

  8. Bart says:

    You are right, Yuko – this series isn’t exactly typography. Never mind that. In a way the share language of form is very alphabetlike.

    I was fascinated by the tactility of the work. With simple tools, the sweaters get really woolly, icecreams extremely drippy and so on. Beautifully done.

  9. Ricardo says:

    Thanks for recommending Yuko’s comics, Stephen. Sweater for Siamese Twins is beautiful.

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Typographica is a review of typefaces and type books, with occasional commentary on fonts and typographic design. Edited by Stephen Coles, also of Fonts In Use and The Mid-Century Modernist.

Founded in 2002 by Joshua Lurie-Terrell. Relaunched in 2009 by Coles and Chris Hamamoto.

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