IIKKI: French Publishing Project Blends Photography and Music into Synesthetic Art Books and Records

French publisher IIKKI produces limited-edition art books paired with vinyl or CD records, each collaboration between a visual artist (typically a photographer) and a musician. Founded by French musician and photographer Mathias Van Eecloo, the project releases three titles per year with a minimalist graphic design. The first publication in 2016 featured collages by Belgian artist Katrien De Blauwer and music by American sound artist Danny Clay. The most recent release (November 2018) pairs dreamy soundscapes by Argentine Federico Durand with color photographs by Spanish duo Albarrán Cabrera (Anna Cabrera and Angel Albarrán). Van Eecloo emphasizes that the music and images are meant to be experienced separately first, then together, to achieve a strong synesthetic effect. He describes IIKKI as both a publishing house and a record label, with each release maintaining a contemplative, electro-acoustic, or ambient musical style that complements the visual work without overpowering it.