The Tsushima Cyanotypes

The Tsushima Cyanotypes is a black-and-blue photobook of cyanotypes by KC Ahonen, limited to just 200 copies.

I loved flipping the 76 pages of this A5-sized uncoated book and seeing the 30 masterfully printed blue-on-white cyanotype prints. Yet, the most impactful piece of this book was the artist’s statement, where KC revealed the source of his images and its uncanny connection to our modern lives within the parallel universe from ones and zeros.

In this book review: Tsushima 1281. Manifested fiction via cyanotypes. Book layout and design. Paper, binding, and print. What I thought of the book. Where to buy this book. Support this blog & get premium features with GOLD memberships!

✪ Note: Daren, one of the Soft Grain Books founders, gave me this book for review free of charge. Regardless of how I acquire them, I never reserve critical observations about products because your trust and readership are more important.

Tsushima 1281.

The pandemic submerged the world in lockdowns in the year 2020. At the time, KC was forced to remain in a basement with his roommate for weeks without leaving.

Stuck in a dark place, Ahonen and his pal submerged themselves in the world of video games. The Ghost of Tsushima was their preferred escape. Transported to Japan around the year 1281, compelled to repel the Mongol invasion, they spent their days living in an ancient world that drew them far and away from the modern-day horrors.

KC is an artist who draws inspiration from seeing new worlds. In 2020, the world that impacted him was virtual. A violent, cinematic game with beautifully rendered Japanese landscapes.

Manifested fiction via cyanotypes.

The Ghost of Tsushima has clearly impacted KC creatively. It compelled him to take numerous screenshots using the same techniques he would in the real world as a photographer.

Yet screencaps weren’t enough for KC. He needed to breathe his vision into the world that he saw beyond the pixels.

After years of experimentation, KC landed on the cyanotype process. A printing method that originated in 1842, it gave KC the colours and texture that transformed the videogame stills into pieces of art. Suddenly, there was life in his work, enough to have his peers inquire how he managed to visit Japan during the full lockdown.

I, too, assumed that the prints were made from photographs until I read the preface.

Book layout and design.

The Tsushima Cyanotypes features a simple, easy-to-browse layout where each print occupies an entire leaf. Printed on the right-hand side, the left pages are left mostly blank, showing just an index number.

I love how clean and consistent this made the book feel, though I wish there were something to read about each of the works. I’m one of those people who stands annoyingly close to the gallery artwork and reads every word of the artist’s statement. That’s why I especially appreciated the well-written introductory text that told the story of those images, revealing their origins and drawing me further in.

Paper, binding, and print.

The book features 76 perfectly bound pages that measure 23cm × 15cm (9” × 5.9”). I’m guessing that the inner pages are about 40gsm and a 60gsm soft cover. The blue looks perfect for the prints, though I would be careful with the cover as it may show wear if handled roughly.

What I thought of the book.

I loved the story and the images in this book. It made me think; while it didn’t take long to get through it all, I enjoyed looking up history and the computer game, as well as discovering new creative possibilities with the cyanotype process. I will most certainly refer to it several times this year as I proceed with my own creative studies.

Where to buy this book.

The Tsushima Cyanotypes is available directly from the publisher for $35 CAD (~$25 US) or $115 CAD (~$80 US) with a one-of-one 8×10 print of your choice (ten print options total). The prints are hand-made and signed.