Stories
Manuel & Chihiro: Bookbinding
Bookbinder Manuel Mazzotti based in the UK & Japanese fellow Chihiro Shigemitsu
Italian-born Manuel is a bookbinder, designer and trained engineer who creates limited edition books, prints, stationery and installations. Manuel studied at the Centro del Bel Libro in Switzerland and then in 2015 he received a QEST Scholarship to study with two masters in the UK. Today, from his workshop in London he creates work for permanent collections around the world.
Chihiro came to study at the University of the Arts London in 2019. She completed her foundation diploma at Camberwell College of Arts and later pursued her bachelor’s degree in graphic and media design at London College of Communication. Chihiro’s work is focused on the human touch, and she aims to bring the modern design process back to a more hands-on approach.
La Danse
This artist’s book, presented as a sculpture, explores the connection between jazz, dance and Art Deco, celebrating the creativity and cultural transformation of the 1920s-1940s. Master bookbinder Manuel and fellow Chihiro carefully selected European and Japanese paper to create depth and texture while ensuring durability. The paper was then silk screen printed with hand-mixed inks, then hand folded and hand cut to create a concertina. Manuel and Chihiro used a range of tools, from small handheld bone folders to nipping presses, to achieve a delicate yet crisp finish.
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