Black Not Sorry - A Photographic Study
Michaela MJCP
In the summer of 2020, Black Lives Matter protesters were marching in Central London, protesting police brutality in the US and across the world. One photographer, James Kemmenoe was on the ground for three days of the protests. He captured moments of anger, sadness and hope, highlighting the passion for the cause in those present. People who had travelled to the capital from far and wide to make their voices heard were captured in beautiful candid black and white shots that faithfully convey the atmosphere during the protests.
The results of this endeavour are collected in this beautiful yet hard-hitting cultural record. Kemmenoe chose the printing and bindery department at MJCP to produce ‘Black Not Sorry’, a bespoke spiral-bound book. We worked with the artist to reach his vision, printing 140 pages of dynamic and energised photographs in stark black and white, using an Indigo printer. All curated into two styles of book. The first, bound uses a matt black metal spiral binding, showcasing the organic raw style of the photos inside.
To transfer ink to media, HP Indigo uses a blanket. The ElectroInk particles are melted and blended into a smooth coating as the blanket is heated. This results in a fully defined image on the blanket, which is then transferred to the substrate via direct contact. The contrast is striking, and the images themselves are translated from digital to analogue with brilliant accuracy. Resolution is greater, solid shades are smoother.
This print style comes into its own when bound and in your hands, as you turn the page it takes you down a road filled with rich tones and textures. How black ink fades into the Bettula paper, gives a smooth skin tone and a clear message to what Kemmenoe wanted to say. He describes the paper as having “grit”, creating a unique exasperation with each turn of the page and book. The added plus that Bettula is a 100% biodegradable paper stock, was used for the wire-bound editions.
The second edition is a more traditional casebound section sewn book wrapped in a Dark Orange Brillianta with gold foiling on the front and spine of the cover. Printed on the same HP Indigo technology, only this time onto a much thicker white paper. Each print having a clean white border, putting the images at the forefront of this sophisticated style of bookbinding. Finishing with a printed belly band wrapped around the back cover fashioned from the same paper as its predecessor, a tip of the hat to its history and development from the original first edition.
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Photographs by James Kemmenoe.
To buy Kemmenoe’s book, follow this link.
Images printed on Fedrigoni paper.
Printed on HP Indigo Digital Press in Shoreditch London.
