The Tale of Three Black Boxes

Shinsuke Minegishi

The core of this project consists of six wood engravings (each about 3 inches square) that tell a sequential narrative about the adventures of a family of three black boxes. The story is presented, with spare text, in a single signature book with the text will be set in 12-point Gill Sans printed at HM. The engravings were printed by the artist on gampi from the studio of Shiho Nao in Japan, and then archivally mounted on the Arches text sheets. Sewn as a single signature into a black wrap with the image of three boxes embossed on the front cover, and debossed on the rear.

A companion case holds a suite of six prints that delve more deeply into the specific imagery of each engraving. each of these multi-layer prints are color woodcuts that incorporate one of the engravings from the story, through windows and openings cut into the printed sheet. The textures and colors created with the woodcuts are achieved through multiple inkings and overprinting. The six prints – along with a title sheet, brief commentary by the artist, and colophon (all set in Gill Sans & printed at HM) – are held loose in a black portfolio case. The portfolio & the set’s matching slipcase were made by the artist.

Edition of 25 sets, signed & numbered by the artist. Oblong 8vo. HM Editions 2006