The TOKYO ART BOOK FAIR 2019 (TABF for short) took place from July 12th to 15th. First held in 2009 at the Gaien Campus of Kyoto University of Art and Design and Tohoku University of Art and Design in Aoyama, this year marked its 10th anniversary and its first in about two years. The venue, the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, which recently reopened this spring, featured approximately 300 exhibitors, including domestic and international publishers, galleries, and artists. Now expanding to become the largest event in Asia, the event was once again packed with visitors every day. However, there were no restrictions and entry was smooth. Upon entering, TABF catalogs were distributed, and a new official app was released, allowing visitors to check exhibitor information and floor maps. I attended on Saturday (the second day) and spent the entire day thoroughly enjoying the fair. Here, I'd like to share one of my prizes. Speaking of entrance, Beams was once again one of the sponsors this year. All visitors were given that iconic orange vinyl shoulder bag (the ultimate item of choice in middle and high school!).
↑Friend
I met "Haiku Joji" (Haiku George), who was exhibiting in Section Z on the first basement floor. A friend of mine found him. His real name is George Nelson. Originally from New Zealand, he came to Japan on a working holiday visa in 2017 and is currently based in Tokyo. He is a poet (and apparently also an economic analyst and freelance model).
I discovered Haiku George on the official TABF app.
Here's the copy I got.
"It's nice to have dessert at a time like this."
Hmm? A typo? What is this sense of relaxation? The illustrations and word sense are relaxed, pure and soul-cleansing. A 5-7-5 haiku written with honest emotion. And it's deep too.
The new poetry collections on sale at TABF are a total of three volumes. "George's Japan" (a friend bought this one) was written when he first arrived in Japan, and the other was "George's Sick Holi" (George's Sick Holi), written during a period when he broke a bone while snowboarding during his working holiday and ended up living off sick holidays (lol).
I later found out that each volume was a labor of love, as he stamped the cover himself and folded the covers by hand.
I got his autograph. A picture of me and George as party people.
He loves techno parties and his motto is "Just dance." You only live once. This is the story of how I found my spiritual bible.
↑FriendI met "Haiku Joji" (Haiku George), who was exhibiting in Section Z on the first basement floor. A friend of mine found him. His real name is George Nelson. Originally from New Zealand, he came to Japan on a working holiday visa in 2017 and is currently based in Tokyo. He is a poet (and apparently also an economic analyst and freelance model).
I discovered Haiku George on the official TABF app. Here's the copy I got.
"It's nice to have dessert at a time like this."
Hmm? A typo? What is this sense of relaxation? The illustrations and word sense are relaxed, pure and soul-cleansing. A 5-7-5 haiku written with honest emotion. And it's deep too.
The new poetry collections on sale at TABF are a total of three volumes. "George's Japan" (a friend bought this one) was written when he first arrived in Japan, and the other was "George's Sick Holi" (George's Sick Holi), written during a period when he broke a bone while snowboarding during his working holiday and ended up living off sick holidays (lol).
I later found out that each volume was a labor of love, as he stamped the cover himself and folded the covers by hand.
I got his autograph. A picture of me and George as party people.He loves techno parties and his motto is "Just dance." You only live once. This is the story of how I found my spiritual bible.
