YASUHIRO ISHIMOTO - CENTENNIAL

YASUHIRO ISHIMOTO
CENTENNIAL

Published by Heibonsha, 2020
Book Size 26.2 × 18.6 mm
Pages 304 pages
Hardcover
Language English, Japanese
ISBN978-4-582207-20-0

“Ishimoto Yasuhiro Centennial” is the official catalog published on the occasion of the large-scale exhibition of the same name, held in three parts at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, and the Museum of Art, Kochi.

The catalog offers a comprehensive introduction to all series of the extremely versatile photographer, who would have turned 100 years old in 2021. Ishimoto was a key figure of 20th century Japanese photography both through his creative work and by introducing and utilizing many international trends and maintaining connections into the worlds of design and architecture.

Split into three sections, the book first presents photographic plates from Ishimoto's many series (among them early works taken in Chicago, portrait photography, series on the Katsura Imperial Village as well as modern architecture, multiple-exposure works, and street snaps from Shibuya) , then offers commentary notes and finally longer essays by world-renowned architect Arata Isozaki as well as the curators of the exhibitions. An extensive appendix featuring a chronological overview of Ishimoto's life, a list of his exhibitions and a list of works is also part of the book. All texts are included in Japanese and English translation.

“One century after Ishimoto's birth, we live in a world in which crossing countries, cultures, and thoughts has never been easier—while at the same time the difficulties posed by that mobility have never been so apparent. Viewed from across the divide of time, what wisdom does Ishimoto's gaze offer for us who live in the present? These commemorative exhibitions provide the opportunity to share our discoveries.” (from the foreword)

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"Ishimoto Yasuhiro Centennial" is the official catalogue published on the occasion of the major exhibition of the same name, held in three parts at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery and the Kochi Museum of Art.

The catalogue offers a comprehensive introduction to all the series of the extremely versatile photographer, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday in 2021. Ishimoto was a key figure in 20th-century Japanese photography both through his creative work and by introducing and using many international trends and maintaining connections in the worlds of design and architecture.

Divided into three sections, the book first presents photographic plates from Ishimoto's many series (including early Chicago works, portrait photography, series on the Katsura Imperial Village as well as modern architecture, multiple exposure works, and Shibuya street photography), then offers commentary notes, and finally longer essays by world-renowned architect Arata Isozaki and the exhibition curators. A detailed appendix presenting a chronological overview of Ishimoto's life, a list of his exhibitions, and a list of works is also part of the book. All texts are included in Japanese and English translation.

“A century after Ishimoto’s birth, we live in a world where traversing countries, cultures, and thoughts has never been easier, while the challenges of this mobility have never been more apparent. Seen from the other side of the time divide, what wisdom does Ishimoto’s gaze offer to us who live in the present? These commemorative exhibitions are an opportunity to share our discoveries.” (excerpt from the foreword)