BOOK | Ellen Fries of 'Purple' Magazine Releases New Book After Approximately Four Years
BOOK | A Year in Review from 'Purple' Magazine's 'Les Chroniques Purple'
VACANT's 5th Anniversary Project!
Elein Fleiss of 'Purple' Magazine Releases a Book After Approximately Four Years
Opened in May 2009 in Harajuku, Tokyo, the free space "VACANT" has become an indispensable presence in discussions of Tokyo's culture, hosting everything from live performances to art and fashion exhibitions. This year marks its fifth anniversary. As a commemorative project, the web project 'Les Chroniques Purple,' curated by Elein Fleiss, founder of 'Purple' magazine, has been compiled into a book. An exhibition will also be held from Saturday, May 3rd to Friday, May 16th.
Text by KUROMIYA Yuzu
A "Chronicle" Reflecting Elein Fleiss Comes to Completion
Since publishing 'Purple Prose,' a pioneer among independent magazines, in 1992, editor Elein Fleiss has continued to create independent magazines focusing on art and fashion. Her innovative layouts, featuring free-spirited fashion photography with an artistic sensibility by talents such as Wolfgang Tillmans, Anders Edström, and Mark Borthwick, invigorated the Paris fashion scene at the time and sparked a movement in independent publishing.
After releasing 'Les Cahiers Purple' in 2010, she focused on raising her child. On New Year's Day 2013, she launched the web project 'Les Chroniques Purple.' This site features works by over 40 artists and photographers from around the world, alongside personal articles including her own essays. From Japan, photographer Takasi Homma, artist KYOTARO, designer and former 'Purple' AD Makoto Orui, and COSMIC WONDER participated. By the project's conclusion on December 31st, 2013, over 400 articles had been archived.
In collaboration with VACANT, a selection of articles from 'Les Chroniques Purple' has been published as a bilingual book in Japanese and English. This work, which encapsulates the worldview and creative connections Elein Fleiss has cultivated, can be seen as a chronicle of her own life.
To commemorate its release, an exhibition featuring selected works from the book will be held at VACANT from Saturday, May 3rd to Friday, May 16th. On the opening day, May 3rd, a special talk event with Elein Fleiss and Yuko Hayashi will also take place. A touring exhibition will commence at "Center for COSMIC WONDER, Osaka" from Friday, June 6th.
'Les Chroniques Purple'
Print Run | 5,000 copies
Size | A4 variant, 210 x 279mm
Pages | 264 pages (separate booklet with Japanese/English bilingual text included)
Price | ¥2,900 (excluding tax)
Publisher | VACANT
Release Date | Saturday, May 3rd
'Les Chroniques Purple' Exhibition
Dates | Saturday, May 3rd - Friday, May 16th
Hours | 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Venue | VACANT
3-20-13 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Admission | ¥300
Special Talk Event "Elein Fleiss's Eyes"
Elein Fleiss x Yuko Hayashi
Date | Saturday, May 3rd
Time | 3:00 PM onwards
Participation Fee | ¥1,000 (includes 1 drink)
Limited to the first 100 attendees. Reservations can be made via the website (http://www.vacant.vc/d/79)
'Les Chroniques Purple' Touring Exhibition
Dates | Friday, June 6th - Sunday, June 22nd
Hours | 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Venue | Center for COSMIC WONDER, Osaka
1-13-17 Shinmachi, Nishi-ku, Osaka
Admission | Free