Tanaka Ikko

Tanaka Ikko (b. 1930) is one of the established masters of Japanese graphic design. His work draws together influences from East and West, acknowledging the vocabulary of European Modernism while remaining characteristically Japanese. Inspired by sources as diverse as traditional Japanese illustration techniques and his passion for American jazz, he is renowned for numerous cultural posters and programmes for theatre and ballet, many for Kanze Noh Drama. This book examines Tanaka's entire career, encompassing graphic design and art direction, editorial and interior design. Following an introduction by Gian Carlo Calza, the book is structured in four chapters: Japanese Style, Typography, Invitation to Theatre, and Art and Communication Today, each of which addresses a different aspect of Tanaka's career. A concluding section comprises a critical anthology, with contributions from many leading commentators on contemporary graphic design, together with an extensive bibliography.