Gerhard Steidl

photograph by Koto Bolofo

Steidl Japanese Photobook Award

Steidl Book Award Japan

On the occasion of the travelling exhibition“Robert Frank: Books and Films, 1947‒2016”coming to Tokyo University of the Arts in November 2016 Steidl Publishers and the Tokyo Art Book Fair are initiating a new annual publishing prize, the Steidl Japanese Photobook Award.

 

By inviting Japan-based artists and photographers to make a book with him, publisher and printer Gerhard Steidl wishes to support the production of new work within the medium of the art- and photobook
“As a young man Robert Frank made his own book maquettes, which were the starting point for the importance of the photobook in his work. So it made sense to create an award that would encourage young people to do the same: to handcraft photobooks and realize the potential of the book as a photographic medium.”(Gerhard Steidl)

 

Gerhard Steidl will personally review every submitted book dummy. From September 16-19, 2016 a pre-selection of the submitted books will be on view at the Tokyo Art Book Fair. Five finalists will be invited to individual review sessions held in Tokyo with Gerhard Steidl and the winning project is to be published by Steidl Publishers in Germany. The winner will be announced at the opening of the exhibition “Robert Frank: Books and Films, 1947–2016” at Tokyo University of the Arts on November 10.

About Steidl

Gerhard Steidl began working as a designer and printer in 1967. He started out printing posters for art exhibitions, and very soon Joseph Beuys and other artists were among his customers. In 1972, the first Steidl book, Befragung der documenta (Questioning documenta) was published. From political non-fiction he expanded into literature and selected art and photography books.

 

Since 1993, Steidl has held the worldwide rights to the work of Nobel Prize laureate Günter Grass. Celebrating some of the most distinctive voices in contemporary literature, Steidl publishes German literature as well as translations from French, English and Icelandic. In 1996, Steidl started his own photo book program. Today, some of the most renowned photographers and artists across the globe are part of the Steidl program, including Joel Sternfeld, Bruce Davidson, Robert Frank, Robert Adams, Karl Lagerfeld, Lewis Baltz, Ed Ruscha, Roni Horn, and Juergen Teller, to name but a few.

 

All Steidl books are designed and produced under the same roof. Every title gets its own special format and book design. Gerhard Steidl himself whose passion for paper is legendary chooses the paper and the linen and personally sees to every step of the production, from layout to printing. He virtually has his hand on every book that has written Steidl on the cover.

 

What began as a backyard enterprise has evolved into one of the world’s most sophisticated and distinguished printing and publishing companies. Whether fashion, art or literature, Steidl sees himself as the artist’s and author’s ally, helping him or her “to do magic”, to create an object of art and to get it out to the readers.

 

Gerhard Steidl is furthermore active as a curator, conceiving and producing photography exhibitions worldwide. Recent exhibitions include “Robert Frank: Books and Films, 1947–2016”; Karl Lagerfeld, “The Little Black Jacket” (for Chanel); Karl Lagerfeld, “The Glory of Water” (for Fendi); and Alessandra Borghese/Alessandra d’Urso, “For Friends” (for Louis Vuitton).

NEWS

2018.08.22 Wed

今日は本の最終的な仕様を決める段階に入りました。本文と同時進行していた表紙のデザインも決まり、素材や見返し、加工を確定させていきます。     鈴木さんは裁ち落としの図版が全編を通じて続くデザインが特徴的な作品集になったので、表紙にも裁ち落としで写真…

2018.08.20 Mon

今日は、いよいよ本文のテストプリントが行われます。まずはゲルハルトから紙について、印刷についてのレクチャーを受けます。 「二人とも今回が初めての写真集になるので、具体的にどんな紙を使うのが良いか、君たちから提案するのは難しいのではないかと思う。ま…

2018.08.20 Mon

デザインの作業をしてもらっている間、基本的には待機時間となります。1回の打ち合わせ時間が毎回15分程度なのに対して、数時間、長いときには朝から夕方まで待機していることもありますが、打ち合わせの時間は流動的なため、基本的にはSteidlから離れることはでき…

2018.08.17 Fri

1日目の午後16時頃になり、いよいよゲルハルトとの打ち合わせが設けられました。第一グループで渡独したのは鈴木さんと平野さん。 ダミーブックを応募してから今回の制作までに約二年ほどが経過しているため、二人とも出版したい作品集のページが増えたり、新しいシ…

2018.08.15 Wed

  2016年のTOKYO ART BOOK FAIRで開催したダミーブックアワード「Steidl Book Award Japan」。受賞作品の制作がいよいよスタートしました。今回の制作で8人の受賞者は2グループに分かれて1週間ずつSteidlに滞在し、期間中にゲルハルトをはじめとするSteidlチーム…

ENTRY

Submission Guidelines

The award is open to artists, photographers, and book designers (both professionals and amateurs) based in Japan, regardless of their nationality. Subject to submissions is a self-made mock-up for a book that has not previously been published by a publishing house. The mock-up does not have to consist of photographs only. It may contain other media such as painting, drawing, collage or text.

Submission requirements

1. June 2 – July 31, 2016
– Online registration

 

– Payment of submission fee (3,000 Yen) via paypal/wire transfer

 

Entry deadline: Sunday, July 31st,  Wednesday August 10th, 2016

Work submission start date: Friday, August 5th, 2016

Work submission deadline: Saturday, August 20th, 2016

 

2. Submission via mail to:
Steidl Book Award Japan 
3-20-13 VACANT, Jingumae Shibuya,
Tokyo, 150-0001

 

 

Submissions must include:
– hard copy of the book dummy
– digital copy of the book in pdf format
– artist statement and title of the work
– short biography
– contact details (address, phone number, email address)
– print-out of completed online application form and proof of payment

 

Please note:

The Award winner has the opportunity to publish the submitted book with Steidl Publishers. Therefore a visit to the Steidl Press in Göttingen, Germany will be required. The travel expenses will be covered by Steidl Publishers. Also accommodation in Göttingen for the duration of the production process will be provided.

About The Tokyo Art Book Fair

 The Tokyo Art Book Fair is the biggest art book fair in Asia, with over 300 publishers, gallery presses and independent creators taking part. Publishers from home and abroad come together at this annual event featuring books from all over the world. The Fair is now in its eighth year; this year’s guest country is Brazil.

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