Tetsumi Kudo: Garden of Metamorphosis: Review for FoRMATS

Tetsumi Kudo: Garden of Metamorphosis is a striking publication both in design and content. In 2008, the Walker Art Center produced this impressive catalog to assist the first North American solo retrospective of Tetsumi Kudo’s work.

The photograph printed fabric cover is die-cut to reveal fluorescent orange circles, a creative juxtaposition that signals the Center’s consciousness in bridging a relationship between book design and essential themes within Kudo’s work.

The book’s color motif is not only a strong design feature but also a reference to the psychedelic pigments signature in Kudo’s work.

The nearly 100 colored (+85 b&w) plates are organized chronologically and accompanied by full fluorescent spreads that signify the stages of transformation within the artist’s life work. The reflective quality of these spreads makes reference to the “radioactive mutation” theme present throughout Kudo’s work, a concept inherent in his response to the socio-cultural metamorphosis of the post-war world.

Originally published for FoRMATS Facebook page: November 4th, 2013