Bookshelf Inserts by Japanese Artist Monde
Japanese artist Monde pioneered the bookshelf insert art form. He introduced the world to his ideas with his first pieces released at Design Festa in 2017. Design Festa is a performance music festival and art convention held in the spring and fall each year in Tokyo.
Now referred to by many as “Book Nooks” bookshelf inserts are popular around the world and include themes from Harry Potter to Star Wars to Steampunk to old European cityscapes. Artists and DIY crafters create and sell them, multiple kits are available, and contests and competitions (challenges) abound!
A Buzzfeed Japan interview from 2018 quotes Monde: “For the past two years, I have been creating artworks based on the theme of ‘Tokyo on shelves.’ I thought it would be interesting to create a back alley in the gaps between bookshelves, and that’s how I came up with this piece. Until now, my hometown, Tokyo, has been my theme. I was born and raised in Tokyo, so I wanted to create something using the scenery that is familiar to me.”
“Originally, my themes were Kabukicho in Shinjuku and skyscrapers. Now I’ve narrowed the scope and am focusing on areas close to my home, my local area. I love displaying them on my bookshelf, and I hope that people who pick them up will also display them.” He continued that he was surprised with the response to his work at Design Fest and has received interest from all over the world.”
The local areas he mentions are the distinctive narrow and winding back alleys of Tokyo. These alleys make perfect diorama scenes for Monde’s “back alley bookshelf” inserts. Monde, from Tokyo, handcrafts all of his inserts. He doesn’t have a website but does occasionally post on Twitter where his bio reads: “Even as an adult, I long for the weekly excitement of art class, so I create new works twice a year.”
The Buzzfeed piece says that “In addition to his main job, Monde has been releasing new products at a rate of one per year as a part of his lifestyle.” How perfect! The artist responsible for the global bookshelf insert phenomenon is content to create at a very modest pace as the world is inspired by his innovation.
Image Credits:
- All images courtesy of Monde’s Twitter Account