Born in Basel, Switzerland to a printmaker father who worked at an artisanal facility in Zurich, Hanni studied graphic design and typesetting at Basel Art Polytechnic in the 1970s, after which he settled in the city and began making the exquisitely typeset and printed books that he still produces today.
Parts of Hanni's works resemble elements of the early Modernist visual language of pioneers like El Lissitsky, while also attempting to revive the idiom of rule dlines and motifs found in prehistoric wall paintings. Combining these with "text collage" to create new works with fresh meaning, Hanni continues to manifest a profound respect for traditional typesetting and printing techniques while looking ahead towards new, innovative and experimental approaches to so-called "Swiss typography."
This exhibition features around 9 books and new works created for this show in Japan. In addition, magazine articles from TM edited by Hanni, design manuals from Basel newspapers and other materials illustrating his creative and printing processes will also be on display.
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