Nobuko Hayashi

I am a bookbinder and artist, drawn to the relationship between materials, structure, craftsmanship, and the hand of the maker.

My background is in fine art, printmaking, and sculpture. I studied fine art and printmaking in Japan before moving to London in 1998 to pursue a Master’s degree in sculpture. My connection with Rotterdam began in 2003 through an artist residency, and after returning for a second residency in 2006, I gradually made the city my home.

My path to bookbinding began in 2011, when I was a guest student at the University of the Arts Bremen. There, an encounter with a printmaking and bookbinding technician renewed my interest in printmaking and introduced me to the craft of bookbinding. I was immediately drawn to its combination of precision, materials, structure, and handwork.
 

Since moving to Rotterdam in 2012, I have continued to develop my practice, including teaching bookbinding workshops in Rotterdam and Japan. Since 2017, I have also had the privilege of working closely with master bookbinder Henk Roest, learning from his many years of experience in traditional handbinding. We continue to make and restore books and boxes together.
 

My background as an artist continues to influence the way I work. I see a book as more than an object to be read. It can also be something to hold, use, keep, and live with—a place where craftsmanship, materials, and artistic expression come together.

I enjoy working with people who have a particular idea, story, or object in mind, and finding a way to give it a physical form through bookbinding.