Araki by Araki [Hardcover]

Jerome Sans (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 3822812927 | ISBN-13: 978-3822812921 | Publication Date: February 1, 2002

This work is limited to a worldwide print run of 2500 copies, each book numbered and signed by the artist. It presents a retrospective collection of around 1000 photographs which tell the artist's story. Araki is best known for his intimate snapshot-style images of women, often tied up with ropes.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Limited edition of 2,500 copies, all numbered and signed by the artist. Featuring around 1,000 images from the Japanese photographer, a retrospective collection of his erotic and sensual work, and life's story.

About the Author

About the photographer: Nobuyoshi Araki was born in Tokyo in 1940 and was given a camera, at the age of 12, by his father. He studied photography and film at Chiba University and went into commercial photography soon after graduating. In 1970 he created his famous Xeroxed Photography Book, which he produced in a limited edition and sent to friends, art critics and people randomly selected from the phone book. Over the years, Araki’s bold unabashed photographs have been the object of a great deal of censorship, especially in his native Japan, a fact that has not hindered him or diminished his influence in the least. To date, Araki has published more than 250 books of his work. TASCHEN’s Araki is the most comprehensive and lavish volume yet.

About the Author: Jerome Sans is currently the Associate Director of the Palais de Tokyo Contemporary Art Center in Paris. He has mounted many exhibitions in France and abroad as an independent curator. Some of his recent projects include "Le Printemps de Cahor" Cahor, France (1997 – 1998), "Taipei Biennia l- The Sky is the Limit", Taipei Fine Arts Museum (2000), among various projects in Asia dealing with Asian artists. He has been the Adjunct Curator at the Institute of Visual Arts, University of Wisconsin (Milwaukee); editor of Gallery Magazine, and will be the commissioner for the French Pavilion in the next Venice Biennial. He is also a board member for the Benesse Prize of the Venice Biennial. Jerome Sans has worked previously with Araki in "Le Printemps de Cahor" (1998).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 600 pages
• Publisher: Taschen (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3822812927
• ISBN-13: 978-3822812921
• Product Dimensions: 48 x 18.8 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 40.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,435,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tastefully Done Erotica or Pornography, June 26, 2007

By 

B. E. Kamak "Art Collector" (NYC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Araki (Taschen 25th Anniversary Series) (Hardcover)

Araki, currently Japan's most notarized and sought photographer, blurs the line between obscenity and art. However there is no denying that ALL of his works are photographed with the precision and skill that can challenge even the works of Robert Mapplethorp.



This particular book, assembled by Taschen, is perfectly executed. All facets of Araki's work are prominently displayed. The cityscapes flow with the eye's movement, the images of flowers are so sharp your nose will be fooled, the nudes capture the models' spirit, and most importantly works from Araki's first book "Sentimental Journey" and "Winter Journey" (images of his marriage, honeymoon & death of his wife) are contained within and elicit emotion like no other.



I highly recommend this publication for anyone who has a serious interest in Erotica, art and/or photography. Again these images are not for the faint of heart: fornication, S & M, prostitution, deprivation, are just to name a few of the subjects!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good mix from his work, June 11, 2008

By 

D. A. MARTINEZ (Madrid, SPAIN) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Araki (Taschen 25th Anniversary Series) (Hardcover)

This book is heavy, thick, very well printed and in a beautifull box...
The content is basically what I was looking for: a little bit from all his work, in high quality prints.
So, i't's nice if you are looking for "ONE" book about Araki's work.
The bad part is that the order of the pics is nosense, I thinks this is because Araki thinks that the "time" and moment where the pic was done is irelevant.

5.0 out of 5 stars very nice overview, March 3, 2011

By 

J. Kusters (Netherlands) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Araki (Taschen 25th Anniversary Series) (Hardcover)

To me, Araki is the ultimate 'casual photographer', a man who takes pictures as casual and non stop as he breathes. It is not just about sex, but about his life, his loves, his fears, his fascinations. And it is honest, not 'glorified' or 'made to please'. In a way, it reminds me of film 'the Truman show'.

It is a huge book. With a man who lives his life looking through a camera, it is only natural his work comes in staggering amounts of pictures. For the true collector, this probably means a never ending hunt to collect the numerous small photo books Araka has published over the past decades. For the less devoted or more lazy folks like me, a book like this is wonderful. It offers a huge peek into the man's work, all in one sale.

The book offers little or no explanation, the pictures appear to be in no special order or system. Although there are some chapters and sections, the link between a group of photo's is often intuitive and private, rather then literary.

I am very happy with this book.