We are delighted to present a Japan travel poster book project, currently in progress. crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. A work that we like to highlight in the writing of Japan info , here is the interview with its creator Jean: The Good Studio .
Can you introduce yourself to the readers of Japan news ?
My name is Jean, originally from Alsace and living in Japan for 11 years. A first trip to the archipelago in high school pushed me to study Japanese intensively, and after language studies and a master's degree in hand I naturally chose to settle in Tokyo. I had various experiences in Tokyo in the public and private sectors, but drawing has always been a passion. Anywhere, anytime, I draw. And a lot while traveling. Japanese has this characteristic of using ideograms, which for me are somewhat similar to drawings. Between oral language and writing, I am fulfilled.
Where did the idea for this book come from on your travel posters?
Over the years I began to specialize in creating posters, which initially served as personal souvenirs of my travels. I wanted to keep a trace of my encounters and experiences on paper to preserve them in a single illustration that I drew on site by hand and then colored on the computer. I created about ten of them, then made them available to the public in a gallery and finally realized that people liked my work. Especially foreign travelers to the archipelago looking for original postcards and posters. I wanted to show the public that there is something other than Hokusai's famous wave and wanted to create a form of homage to the places I love. This is how my collection started and grew. The book seemed like an obvious choice, but I needed an original concept, an intercultural approach that reflected my personality.
Can you describe this work to us?
This book is a collection of my best creations which invites the reader to (re)discover Japan through a colorful and original graphic universe. It contains a multitude of personal memories which can actually mix with your own memories; look at one of my posters and you will certainly find details that will remind you of your stay here. Contemplate them carefully and they will make you want to go to these places that I draw. Immerse yourself in my creations and discover even more aspects of Japanese culture.
In addition to the posters, I chose to associate each destination with calligraphy of the type goshuin . These are calligraphic ideograms associated with a red stamp referring to a place. THE goshuin are traditionally collected by pilgrims to attest to their visit to a temple and are still relevant today. This element adds an additional dimension to the graphic journey that I propose, with each destination validated by a goshuin . This idea came to me after making the famous Shikoku pilgrimage, during which pilgrims never miss a visit to the temple calligrapher. Many French people make this pilgrimage and will understand the goshuin .
What are your plans for the future?
This book is intended to become the first opus of the collection Have a good trip which will take readers to discover a multitude of destinations via my creations. The China volume is already being created, as well as the Trans Siberian and others. But I also think I still have a lot to draw about Japan, I have notebooks full of drawings just waiting to be published and they are filling up every day.
For more information on the book and the campaign
To pre-order the book and receive exclusive screen prints and posters, go before September 10, 2020
- On the campaign page Japan: Travel in posters on Kickstarter
- Also discover his work and his creative process, visit instagram account
