Limited edition book cover design
Kazuo Ishiguro
Kazuo Ishiguro’s novels tend to defy genre expectations, with each new work veering from the conventions of the last, what haunts all of them is the abyss of memory and its potential to shape and distort, to forget and to silence. His protagonists seek to overcome the chasms and absences left by loved ones and lost family members by making sense of the past through acts of remembrance. He has a reserved style and usually reveals his plots gradually as the books progresses, making the reader feel like a detective uncovering clues.
A design of three limited edition book covers, contained in a handmade wooden Japanese box. The book covers were created with watercolour and a sewing machine to achieve the desired intricate, Japanese style. The stitching design was created to replicate the style of Kazuo Ishiguro’s books and how he makes the reader the detective, having to piece bits of evidence together to discover the plot.
Never let me go- The faint watercolour and red stitching explores the idea of heartline imagery, representing the loss of characters within get book
When we were orphans- Abstract design that takes inspiration from brain cells, relating to loss of memory in the book, creating imagery that looks similar to cherry blossom trees, a strong link in the book when the main character spent time in a house and garden in Shanghai
The buried giant- The strong watercolour strokes convey the treacherous, ogre strewn landscapes of sixth century Britain. The 3 stitched circles represent Axl and Beatrice's disconnection and journey to find their son
