Birdsong Book*
Maker Introduction
A work born from passion and dedication.
To revive a medieval masterpiece from 1,000 years ago in the 21st century,
Veterans from various fields have come together.
Planning / Editing: Mi-Young Ko
"The first presentation I was assigned while studying art history in graduate school was about medieval manuscripts.
That presentation led me to become an editor, and eventually to this book."
Hangil Art, Sigong Art, Artbooks, Ebom Publishing
A professional editor who has produced numerous art books at Korea's leading art publishing houses.
With the perspective of a Western art history major, she sought to uncover the context behind the images hidden in the text and considered how to translate this vast medieval heritage into the language closest to Korean readers.
She is also the editor who pioneered the 'women's daily life comics' genre with Masuda Miri's works. With keen insight into the flow of the times, she has woven medieval heritage into captivating storytelling. In this era of images and narratives, she vividly brings the dramatic world of manuscripts to life in contemporary language.
Art Director: Keun Kim Roland
"260 images spanning 1,000 years.
Bringing together the textures of different eras into a single format was both a challenge and a joy."
A senior designer working between Stockholm and Seoul.
MoMA, Serpentine Gallery, Gallery Hyundai, Pace Gallery โ
He leads PRAKTIK, a graphic design studio that has collaborated with world-renowned art institutions and designed the physicality of art books.
In this book, he has brought manuscripts from 1,000 years ago out of the archives.
Unlike today's book covers, which reveal content through various images and fonts, manuscript covers were made of fine leather or fabric to ensure the permanent preservation of their contents. While maintaining the unique production principles of manuscripts, he reinterpreted them with a design sensibility suited to modern readers.
The two-column layout, which captures the rhythm of images and text, maximizes the pleasure of the book not only as something to read but also as something to view.
With the sensibility honed at Europe's top design studios, we have revived the most classical beauty in the most modern way.
Birdsong Books (Birdsong Books)
"A sensation that the sleek glass screen of a smartphone can never provide.
We believe in the power of paper books."
We listen to the voices of readers and writers, and present their stories in the vessel of a book.
Books are often considered something to be read with the eyes. However, our perspective is a bit different. Reading is also a physical actโturning pages with your hands, feeling the weight, and touching the texture. This tactile experience goes beyond perceiving with the eyes and recognizing with the brain; it leads to a special kind of reading where you remember stories with your whole body.
At the peak of the digital age, we are once again talking about 'materiality.'
We believed it was time to maximize the advantages of the materiality of paper books.
"Storytelling of Medieval Artists" is the most concentrated result of this philosophy. Just as people in the Middle Ages enjoyed stories not only through text but also through 'images' and 'materiality' in manuscripts a thousand years ago, we hope this book will start at your fingertips and become a profound resonance remembered in your heart.
Official website: www.birdsongbook.com
Instagram: @birdsongbook
Reasons for Wadiz Funding
01. A book is not data, but 'materiality.'
Online bookstores are excellent channels for quickly delivering vast amounts of information. However, within them, books often approach us as 'text data.' Reading goes beyond scanning information with your eyes; it is a physical experience of feeling the texture of paper with your fingertips, bearing its weight, and turning each page. We needed a place where we could share the value of this book's materiality.
02. A book is 'the most affordable art in the world.'
We live in an era where popular planning and trendy marketing determine the fate of books. However, what remains in a reader's life is the author's deep contemplation and insight. The stories of medieval manuscripts that have endured for a thousand years were not born in the fast-consumed paperback era. We wanted to present this book not as a product, but as a collectible work of art.
03. For those who have the power to recognize art.
The discernment to find value even if it takes time, and the passion to invest in deep stories that others overlookโthis is the 'virtue' of Wadiz supporters. Birdsong Books brings to the world this vast and beautiful original work that many publishers hesitated to take on due to production costs and marketability.
Future plans for the use of funding
The story does not end here.
"Beyond the age of heroes and monsters,
Now it is time to meet the women of the Middle Ages."
Chantrey Westwell, the author of this project, "Storytelling of Medieval Artists," has another fascinating work that pairs with this book.
"Maidens or Monsters?"
From Amazon warriors to goddesses, queens, and deadly seductresses. This book focuses entirely on the 'female characters' who dominated medieval legends. It contains the powerful and mysterious stories of medieval women, as intense and enchanting as the tales of King Arthur and dragons.
We also want to introduce this book to Korean readers. However, with over 400 pages, full-color four-tone printing to recreate the medieval palette, professional translation, and sophisticated design, producing an uncompromising art book requires significant production costs.
Your choice is the key that will unlock the next book.
The success of this funding does not end with the publication of a single book. Your support is the most certain promise to bring the next story, sleeping in the archives, into Korean. Please become a strong supporter of Saeui Nore so that the strange and beautiful stories of the Middle Ages can continue without interruption.
FAQ
Q. Can I read this even if I don't know about medieval art?
You can fully enjoy it without any specialized knowledge. It is organized around familiar story keywords such as heroes, villains, and romance, making it accessible to everyone.
Q. How is it different from the original edition?
A. The Korean edition is produced as a larger hardcover fabric-bound book to maximize its collectible value. In addition, the deep translation by art historian Yeon-sik Lee enhances the quality of the content.
Q. Can I trust the quality of the illustrations?
A. We use ultra-high-resolution digital data sourced directly from the British Library. Every illustration includes the actual shelfmark and folio number of the artifact, adding to its professionalism.
Q. Is it suitable as a gift?
A. This book is more than just a read; it is an art object that elevates the dignity of your library. Gift a noble legacy that only a select few could enjoy over a thousand years. The great narrative, where humanity's imagination first took shape, will add profound elegance to the recipient's daily life.
Q. Why should we pay attention to 'medieval manuscripts' now?
A. Because they are the 'original data' where humanity's imagination first took form. These secret records, once owned only by a few nobles, became the roots of all the fantasy and heroic epics we are passionate about today. This book, which deciphers handwriting from a thousand years ago through human eyes, will be an inexhaustible source of inspiration for modern creators, going beyond mere restoration.
Q. What value does this book have?
The handwritten scripts of medieval manuscripts and the souls contained within them remain an unknown realm, still awaiting human interpretation. This book is a precious record that fully translates those mysterious writings into our language.