It is with great pleasure that I announce the publication of Hide And Seek, the book that will launch Vasta Editions, the publishing outgrowth of my antiquarian business. A natural, long anticipated expansion of my thirty years in vintage erotic trade, and a look to the future world of creative book production, publication and distribution. Therefore, I am very pleased to present Hide And Seek a limited edition artist's book, a collaboration between Parisian artists Mirka Lugosi and Gilles Berquet. This is the preliminary announcement for the publication of the book. The official launch will take place at the New York Art Book Fair in September, the 25th to the 28th, MoMA PS1 in Long Island City.
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Hide And Seek brings together the drawings of Mirka and the photographs of Gilles in a beautifully printed and designed limited edition book comprised of 200 signed and numbered copies. The book measures 9.5" x 13" with twenty-four pages of images and includes a deluxe edition of ten copies with an original piece of art housed in a black box, plus twenty extra illustrated copies and the standard edition of one hundred seventy copies. Each book includes a supplemental fold-out poster. I could go on in detail but it would be much more informative and entertaining to watch Gilles' two minute video, sort of a "how to use this book" demonstration...(note that the video is compressed to fit)
I am very pleased with the creative process of making the book, with Paris as the base, working with Mirka and Gilles on the concept and editing and finally, working with Gilles on the production in Paris and long distance from here in New York and eventually, the printing in Italy. For me the book is a total success as it meets the criteria of what I wanted to create. A simple, beautiful, sensual book bringing together the work of two exceptional artists produced in a small edition for two hundred lovers of the fantasies and dreams captured on paper with camera and pencil.
For my regular clients, friends and followers who cannot attend the art book fair I will accept orders for the book starting September 10th for delivery after the book fair. The regular edition (170 copies) is $40.00; the extra illustrated edition (20 copies) is $425.00 and the boxed, deluxe edition with original artwork (10 copies) is $1,350.00.
Introduction to Hide And Seek
"After thirty years of discovering and selling vintage erotica, Hide And Seek realizes my passionate ambition to publish limited edition artistsʼ books. I am delighted that this first book is a collaboration with two exceptional contemporary artists. Mirka Lugosi contributes her exquisitely detailed, psychologically complex pencil drawings. Gilles Berquet offers a luminously seductive world in his photographs of the female form. The individual creativity of these two artists is enhanced by their marriage as inspiration and imagination flows between them. Muse meets Muse.
My initial idea was simple. Bring together the work of both artists, resonating on facing pages in a beautifully printed limited edition. After several conversations with them in Paris the marvelous concept you see here emerged. A collection of images enclosed in folding pages, hiding and revealing them throughout the book. A game of hide and seek.
Turning the pages is a bit of sleight of hand magic, a bit of surrealistic juxtaposition, a bit of the three-card Monte street hustle. You get a quick look at an image and it disappears as the folds open and close. Unfold the pages again and it reappears".
"Where is your favorite image hiding?" ~Joseph Vasta
