TOMBEAU TOKYO by Nobuyoshi Araki

日本人写真家、荒木経惟の作品集。

写真のすべてがあの世なんだ。あの世が楽園だっていうこと。カメラを覗いたらね、もうどこでも楽園なんだよ、今。— 荒木経惟

2016年にフランス・パリのギメ東洋美術館での個展のために作家が撮り下ろし、その後タカ・イシイギャラリーでも展示された400点以上に及ぶ膨大なモノクロームシリーズ作品「トンボー・トウキョー(TOMBEAU TOKYO」。2017年には、アメリカのLITTLE BIG MAN GALLERYでも同タイトルの作品展が開催された。本書は、LITTLE BIG MAN GALLERYでの展覧会に際して制作された展覧会図録であり、同ギャラリーが主宰する出版社「LITTLE BIG MAN BOOKS」が新たに設立したリトルプレスプロジェクト「LITTLE BIG MAN MINI EDITIONS 」の第1作目でもある。「車の窓から青山墓地を撮影していた時に、墓石の向こうに巨大な墓標、高層ビルが重なって見え、まるで墓石(tombeau)が立ち並んでいるようだった」と作家は語る。「東京しか撮る気が起きない」とこの都市を見つめ続け、過去、そして現在の東京の街のドキュメンタリーに私情の位相を写し込み、重ねあわせる。本シリーズから、作家が写す対象に表裏一体の死生観がより一層強まっていることを窺い知ることができ、現在の心境をとらえている。

“All photography belongs in the next world. I mean, the next world is paradise. When I look through the camera now, every place is paradise.” – Nobuyoshi Araki

This monumental body of work is comprised of a vast still life series. A large percentage of the work in Tombeau Tokyo (2016) focuses on floral compositions with various objects arranged withinmainly sex toys and dolls. Viewed alongside the historical context of Vanitas paintings and historic Dutch flower still-life paintings, Araki's photographs bear resemblance, but differ in that these blooms are no longer at their lush best, but in faded fetid form. Within this withering foliage lie toy monstersserpents set to corrupt this garden of earthly delights. Amongst the settings of some of these images, Araki has placed images of his colonoscopy examinations, so as to propose that this wellspring of darkness may perhaps come from within. Art historical parallels can also be drawn to surrealists such as Max Ernst and his retinue of fantastic beasts. Here, toy reptiles hover over wilting bouquets menacingly. While Araki's playfulness is present, darkness encroaches. Dismembered dolls recall Goya's Disasters of War, and miniature Japanese bondage figurines remind us of pornographic Hentai Mangacartoons depicting alien creatures violating human fantasy. Araki, as attuned to this, seems to be suggesting that the sky is falling and the apocalypse is nigh. This catalogue accompanies Araki's exhibition at LITTLE BIG MAN GALLERY in 2017.

by Nobuyoshi Araki

REGULAR PRICE ¥4,180  (tax incl.)

softcover
36 pages
241 x 323 mm
black and white
limited edition of 350 copies
2017

published by LITTLE BIG MAN BOOKS

BLUE PERIOD / LAST SUMMER : ARAKINEMA  青ノ時代/去年ノ夏:アラキネマ by Nobuyoshi Araki [JAPAN EDITION]
SOLD OUT BLUE PERIOD / LAST SUMMER : ARAKINEMA / 青ノ時代/去年ノ夏:アラキネマ by Nobuyoshi Araki [US EDITION]
UMEGAOKA ELEGY by Nobuyoshi Araki
SOLD OUT LOVE-DREAM, LOVE-NOTHING by Nobuyoshi Araki
片目 / KATA-ME by Nobuyoshi Araki
SOLD OUT PHOTOGRAPHOARY: PHOTO-MAD OLD MAN A TURNING 77 ON 5.25.17 by Nobuyoshi Araki
KAORI THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: PHOTO-MAD OLD MAN A 2015.5.25 75TH BIRTHDAY by Nobuyoshi Araki
SOLD OUT MARVELOUS TALES OF BLACK INK by Nobuyoshi Araki
ネガエロポリス 右眼墓地 / NEGAEROPOLIS UGANBOCHI by Nobuyoshi Araki
切真 / KIRISHIN by Nobuyoshi Araki
人妻ノ写真 / SOMEONE’S WIFE by Nobuyoshi Araki
センチメンタルな空 / SENTIMENTAL SKY by Nobuyoshi Araki
写真夏 2011 / SHAMANATSU 2011 by Nobuyoshi Araki
彼岸 / HIGAN by Nobuyoshi Araki
楽園 / RAKUEN by Nobuyoshi Araki [SIGNED]
SOLD OUT POLART by Nobuyoshi Araki
2THESKY MY ENDER by Nobuyoshi Araki
SOLD OUT HANA KINBAKU by Nobuyoshi Araki
SOLD OUT 好色 / KOSHOKU by Nobuyoshi Araki
SOLD OUT 好色ペインティング / KOSHOKU PAINTING by Nobuyoshi Araki
SOLD OUT 愛ノ花  / AI NO HANA by Nobuyoshi Araki
SOLD OUT LOVE BY LEICA by Nobuyoshi Araki
SOLD OUT SHIKIJO-KYO by Nobuyoshi Araki
SOLD OUT 流石 / RYU U SE KI - HYSTERIC No.10 by Nobuyoshi Araki