INTRODUCTION AND HARUKI MURAKAMI
Hi, Tumblr bloggers! I’m A, and this is my introductory post for the new blog. I’d like to say that this blog came out of hobby, as means for practice, and I believe a little push. I’ll be working mainly on book reviews, quotes, and book cover art--I don’t believe in judging a book by its cover per se, but good literature coupled by another artist’s good artwork is something I fancy, anyway. And speaking of book covers...
Haruki Murakami was born in Kyoto, Japan, and to this day he is one of literature’s most favoured contemporary fiction writers. Originally written in Japanese, his books have now been translated into 50 different languages, and with those editions (and book publishers) come different art covers. The book selection I have of his are designed by John Gall, an American designer born out of New Jersey. The collage shown consists of Gall’s first edition art for Murakami, and newer releases branded a new design--more abstract, definitely without its vintage feel.
Much of Gall’s interpretation in making Murakami’s book covers was inspired by a thirties to sixties feel, and then traditional Japanese art. For example, his art for South of the Border, West of the Sun and Norwegian Wood were inspired by old Japanese advertisements, rendered to what I believe is a near accurate presentation of most of Murakami’s characters--vintage; preserved.
The bottom picture of the collage shows part of the cover for Murakami’s short stories compilations Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman and Gall’s inspiration came from older Japanese pop culture graphics. The colourful assortment, Gall mentions, is also inspired by Japanese bubble-gum packaging from the older years.
In summary, Gall’s creation of the Murakami first ed. art is a wonderful photomontage of many things that are pieces of Murakami’s characters. Upon holding a book, I like to think that its cover begins to give way about what adventure you’re about to unravel even before the prologue begins.
Thanks for reading and there will surely be more for What Comes After, A