PROJECT DESCRIPTION

American Illustration 39 is a hardcover book inserted into a printed, two-color slipcase box with X O design embossed in relief – with a small tribute to Milton Glaser humbly included within the endpaper design.

There’s a troubling significance to five images that goes beyond their assigned purpose and visual impact in a story that involves cultural and political suppression.

AI39 PRINTED and CENSORED in CHINA

In October 2020, in the days leading up to the press run for this book, a Chinese government authority, who had previously reviewed the book over the summer, ordered production be shut down at the printing plant in mainland China unless five images by five illustrators that contained Chinese subject matter were removed.

We refused to do so, but with no options, a decision was made based on the circumstances, schedule and budget to remove the eight images and continue printing the book in China. In protest, the pages where the images were removed have been printed blank with only the illustrator's name and a statement of explantion, only to find that China had also censored our words. We did NOT replace the images as China suggested with “less offensive” images as an action of dissent. The censored pages remain blank with only the illustrator's name, without comment, as proof that something is missing. In cooperation with our Hong Kong printer, where Chinese authority is at present less intrusive, we printed the five images as separate page inserts and include them in the book.

BOOK INFORMATION

Trim Size: 9.5 x 12.5

Number of Pages: 384

Binding Method: Casebound, hardcover with embossed 2c/2c slipcase box, section sewn with head & tail bands and gold gilded edge.

Paper: 140 gsm woodfree uncoated artpaper

Typefaces: Graphik

CREDIT INFORMATION

Creative Director: Debra Bishop

Art Director:

Book Designer: Debra Bishop

Jacket/Cover Designer: Debra Bishop

Illustrator: Nathan Devlin

Photographer:

Picture Editor:

Production Director: Mark Heflin

Production Coordinator: Mauricio Ledesma

Production Artist:

Other Credits: Natasha Tibbott-Box X O design; Overlap One Another-Endpaper pattern design

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