The Tale of Three Black Boxes SIGNED LIMITED EDITION

Limited Edition, First Edition. Wraps. "This kind of work shouldn't be framed. It should be held in the viewer's hands." So said artist Shinsuke Minegishi's mentor when beholding prototypes of his "study of three dimensions," Minegishi writes in his introduction to The Tale of Three Black Boxes portfolio: "He meant that the tactile aspect of the multi-layer prints I had created needed to be experienced in conjunction with the visual. As soon as I heard this, I had a vision of the portfolio now in your hands." The Tale of Three Black Boxes consists of a pamphlet book with a sequential narrative about the adventures of a family of three black boxes ("I am interested in exploring the existence of parallel worlds in some other time & space. In this case, the world happens to be the life of three black boxes (three, because that traditionally is the smallest number a family can be)," told through wood engraved illustrations printed by the artist on gampi from the studio of Shiho Nao in Japan, then archivally mounted on the Arches text sheets printed by the publisher on the handpress, accompanied by a suite of 6 woodcut prints that delve more deeply into the specific imagery of each engraving, in a companion portfolio created by the artist, housed together in a slipcase also of the artist's own making. The portfolio of multi-layer prints are color woodcuts that, through openings the artist cut into the printed sheet, incorporate each engraving, with deep textures and vivid colors achieved through multiple inkings and overprintings. These six prints are introduced through a title sheet with brief and engaging commentary by Shinsuke Minegishi, who signed the colophon of the pamphlet book in English and the portfolio in Japanese. The Tale of Three Black Boxes is described by Heavenly Monkey as both Minegishi's most personal book and his most ambitious publishing project to date, hence the edition limited to just 25 sets, of which this is number 22. Edition limited to 25 sets and 3 artist's copies, this being number 22 and signed by the artist at colophon of both book, in English, and portfolio, in Japanese. 7 3/4" X 8 7/8". Pamphlet book of 10 pages, unpaginated, printed rectos only, sewnbound in black wraps, embossed with three black boxes to upper wrap, with portfolio holding folded printed introduction of three pages and 6 prints bound in black ribbed paper over boards, housed together in a black paper slipcase of the artist's making, lettered in black to a paper title label. Dust soiling and faint white marks to exteriors of slipcase, pamphlet book, and portfolio, with some rubbing to bottom edge of slipcase, else fine.…