Grapefruit by Yoko Ono (Sphere)
Source: entertainment.ha.com Heritage Auctions. License: All Rights Reserved.
Grapefruit is a book by Japanese-American artist Yoko Ono. An early example of conceptual art, it contains various event scores, or instruction works. Originally published in 1964 by Ono’s own imprint, Wunternaum Press, in Tokyo, a second edition came out in 1970, by Simon & Schuster in New York, Peter Owen in London, and Bärmeier & Nikel in Frankfurt.
Shown here is the paperback edition by Sphere Books in London from 1971, with more than 200 instruction works divided into seven sections: Music, Painting, Event, Poetry, Object, Film, and Dance. Some of the poems begin with the word “Imagine” and have inspired Ono’s husband, John Lennon, to write his most famous song.
The cover design conflates the titular fruit with a reference to Ono’s Film No. 4 (Bottoms), a Fluxus film from 1966 that exclusively shows the naked bottoms of humans walking on a treadmill. The fonts in use are Stencil and what appears to be a version of Bookman Bold Swash, distinguished by a Y with a high crotch. The cover was printed by Acorn Litho Feltham.
“Burn this book after you've read it.” – Yoko
“This is the greatest book I’ve ever burned.” – John
Yoko Ono turned 90 this weekend. Happy birthday!
Source: www.pathosmuenchen.de Pathis München. License: All Rights Reserved.
Source: www.harpersbazaar.com License: All Rights Reserved.
Yoko Ono and John Lennon at a book signing for Grapefruit in London
This post was originally published at Fonts In Use