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April 6, 2015
Series: The Reading Experience | Part 5: "A New Era of Pop Art"
Series | THE READING EXPERIENCE
This Month's Three Books | Sep. 2013
Part 5: "Play within Art – A New Era of Pop Art"
The encounter with a book that changes one's life. It might happen in an instant. We introduce three photo and art books selected by Atsushi Hamanaka of twelvebooks, a book hunter who travels the world in search of such special volumes. Good to look at, good to touch, good to display. Welcome to the world of tangible books.
Is this a photograph? An illustration? Or something else...? Like skaters, these next-generation artists effortlessly cross all boundaries. The works they create are both bold and delicate, some with a sharp, satirical edge. Here, we introduce three of the freshest and most dynamic among them. Through their fearless approach to taboos, we hope you'll feel the fresh winds of new pop art.
Selected by HAMANAKA Atsushi (twelvebooks)Photographs by JAMANDFIXText by TANAKA Junko (OPENERS)
Lovable and Dark
Aurel Schmidt, originally from Canada and now based in New York, is known for her delicate, intricate, yet witty illustrations. The protagonists of her works are often objects that might be classified as "trash," such as flies, empty bottles, and cigarette butts. She combines these with everyday items like flowers and insects, rendering them with the fine touch of colored pencils. Her illustrations possess a certain strangeness and dark atmosphere alongside their loveliness. Some are accompanied by poems by the poet Franz Wright.
"Reveries of a Lost Life Mask"
Artists | Aurel Schmidt & Franz Wright
Publisher | MÖREL www.morelbooks.com
Size | 203 × 254 mm / Softcover
Pages | 48 pages
Price | ¥4,620
Retailer | VACANT
Published in 2012
*Limited edition of 1000 copies
The "Color Maniac" of the Moment
Sam Falls, whose works are held in the collections of the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and the International Center of Photography (ICP), captivates us with his masterful composition and exceptional attention to color. His works transform into installations or photographs, enchanting viewers. In "Problems with Decomposition," he relentlessly overlays colorful "stamps" onto photographs of car tires, fruits, and vegetables. His bold compositions and color choices reveal his exploration of digital imagery.
"Problems with Decomposition"
Artist | Sam Falls
Publisher | MÖREL www.morelbooks.com
Size | 203 × 254 mm / Softcover
Pages | 60 pages
Price | ¥6,300
Retailer | VACANT
Published in 2012
*Limited edition of 1000 copies
A Restorer Who Revives the Past in the Present
London-based artist Julie Cockburn breathes new life into vintage photographs and paintings, once owned by others, through delicate craftwork, much like remaking secondhand clothing. She imbues forgotten objects with new value. While her works evoke a sense of nostalgia, they can also be seen as a challenge to a society that mass-produces and consumes. Perhaps this is her way of "conversing" with society.
"Conversations"
Artist | Julie Cockburn
Publisher | Tycoon Books www.tycoonbooks.net
Size | 175 × 210 mm / Hardcover
Pages | 48 pages
Price | ¥2,520
Retailers | VACANT, Tycoon Books
Published in 2013
*Limited edition of 500 copies
Atsushi Hamanaka
Representative of twelvebooks. In March 2010, he established "twelvebooks" as a platform to promote the activities of publishers and artists with unique styles, focusing on contemporary photography. In addition to handling domestic distribution of imported books and magazines, he engages in activities related to books and images, including planning, selecting, and directing photo exhibitions. www.twelve-books.com
Photo by Daisuke Hamada
