Kristiana Ghiuru

Cookbook for Kristiana Ghiuri

The search for International Klein Blue

In 1958, French artist Yves Klein declared: "Blue is the invisible that becomes visible. It exists beyond the dimensions of other colours." He saw his iconic International Klein Blue (IKB) as a symbol of infinity and timelessness. Often described as 'bluer than blue', this unique colour became the basis for many of Klein's works and has inspired generations of artists, fashion designers, creatives and designers.

For us, IKB has also become a source of admiration, but also a challenge. Deciding on a colour is one thing. But then finding the perfect materials - paper, cardboard or fabric - in that particular iconic shade proved to be a really tough nut to crack.

We have worked on several projects that required IKB. The latest was the cookbook Cooking for our client Kristiana Ghiuri. The book had to reflect Kristiana's recipes - exciting, bold and full of intense flavours. We chose an open Swiss binding, with the book's raw spine and seams visible, the cover covered with tissue and perfectly matched details. The demand for luxurious and flawless craftsmanship did not deter our production. The book was printed on the beautiful Swedish paper Arctic Volume Ice and the wire stitching was then a routine task. The holographic foil stamping on the cover and the manual assembly of the book blocks was a challenge. But the really hard part? Finding the bluest blue among the different materials!

Yves Klein created a true icon with International Klein Blue (IKB). And it's fascinating to realise how difficult it is to recreate it. This was an amazing experience for us. At Hässlers, we don't like to settle for compromises. For us, it's not just about showing some options and then being done. The search for the right colour, material, construction and small details is crucial for us. But we never see it as a hardship. Quite the opposite! The work becomes really exciting - and even fun - when you approach it with both rigour and passion.