''SHU'' is an abbreviation which stands for the ''Union of Odessa Artists''. This book is a vast throughout research of Odessa artistic history containing art-groups, exhibitions and memoirs. All the significant events are gathered here in the chronological order from the end of the XIX-th till nowadays. The book is generously illustrated by art reproductions, notions and history documents, many of which are unique and first published.
The book was edited following the local standarts of scientific literature.
Book cover was designed to remind an old Soviet edition, already used for a couple of decades by readers, paper sheets imitate an old newspaper material.
Book design: Olga Lannik
Cover design: Oleg Staykov
Author: Alexander Dmyitrenko
The front fly-leaf represents "the old Epoque", according to the first part of the book. Most of these documents and photos are represented further in book. Correspondingly, the back fly-leaf represents some modern docs.
The front page performs some decorative and font elements of renowned Odessa artists of the XX-th century Kovturman and Juk.
The font was reconstructed from Juk's old sketches of the Ukrainian alphabet.
Each time period is indicated by its own color style wich corresponds with the history period.
Each year indicates a new chapter and each time period has its own drop cap character style corresponding to the history period but not too eclectic.
The book has being written for 2 years. During his research work, the author accomplished one side project: he rediscovered Odessa artist of the first part of the XX-th century Dimitriy Lebedev. The author has spent endless days in Odessa archives reconstructing artist's biography. So we decided to make a small limited edition catalogue as an extra for the main book, signed and partly handcrafted. The style of this edition was determined by its origin. The catalogue and a postcard set with reproductions are enfolded imitating archival folder. Postcards and an exhibition catalogue were made with the overprint technique using typescript style imitating some old lost and found documents.
