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March 17, 2015
BOOK | "Against Literacy: A Theory of Graffiti Culture" by artist Enrico Isamu Ohno
BOOK | Graffiti Culture Explored Through Major Artists, History, Contemporary Japan, and Art Criticism
Against Literacy: A Theory of Graffiti Culture
LIXIL Publishing has released "Against Literacy: A Theory of Graffiti Culture," a book that examines graffiti culture from the perspectives of history, contemporary Japan, and art criticism. Artist Enrico Isamu Ohno discusses eight key figures in graffiti culture, including the influential anonymous artists Banksy and BNE, as well as Rammellzee.
Text by MATSUOKA Wutami (OPENERS)
A Rare Compilation on Graffiti Culture in Japan
A groundbreaking work on graffiti and street art criticism has been published. "This is the definitive statement on graffiti and street art criticism. It's unprecedented!" exclaims writer and creator Seiichi Itoh, offering his fervent endorsement.
The author, Enrico Isamu Ohno, was born in Tokyo in 1983 to an Italian father and a Japanese mother. He is currently based in New York, where he primarily exhibits works such as paintings, installations, and murals. He also actively engages in writing essays and participating in symposia, offering a perspective that bridges contemporary art and street art.
In this book, Ohno delves into graffiti culture, which is less accessible in Japan, examining it from the viewpoints of major artists, its history, contemporary Japan, and art criticism.
Photograph by Lokke Highstein (New York, 2013)
Chapter 1 scrutinizes eight key figures essential to discussions of graffiti culture, including the "art terrorist" Banksy, BNE, and Rammellzee. Chapter 2 traces the origins of graffiti culture, focusing on New York in the early 20th century. Chapter 3 shifts the focus from New York to Japan, where Ohno grew up, examining contemporary Japan as a case study of graffiti culture's reception and evolution from a cultural theory standpoint. Furthermore, Chapter 4 discusses the overall landscape of graffiti culture within the context of art criticism.
In today's art scene, characterized by information overload and complexity, this book serves as a valuable guide for cultivating a flexible sensibility.
Against Literacy: A Theory of Graffiti Culture
Author | Enrico Isamu Ohno
Publisher | LIXIL Publishing
Specifications | A5
Price | ¥2,916
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