Customer Reviews

Araki by Araki

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

I live in the Netherlands, so my English want be flawless, sorry.
Interesting report on Aziatic medium pornography.
I did see this book in elephant size at the bookshop, but could not afort 2500 euro`s and housing this work cost me one chairspace to much. The actual size of the book I bought felt a little smale after the big experience, size wise.
Well photographed, black and white suites the content of twilight zone between lust and ethics.
Always the question how girls (and boys) end up in this questionable industry. Araki gives this people a hole new platform in art photography, without moral stand, or it must be that he became succesfull in makeing his work very famous.
This book is in my opinion a honorfull update on the position of people in the dark sex industry. The engagement his case a matter of opening up the performances to a bigger public.
Our dark thoughts performed by a (unhappy) few, because the rest of the world is not able to let them selves free, we mostly are thight to the contempory moral and social structure we live in. The girls and boys in the book are standing outside these moral laws. Araki make pictural notes, sometimes very esthetic, but never ethic.
If you see it as a more reporting point of view instead as an act of art, people would not have much problems with this material. It is the way you perception is working.
But, I am sure, his work would even makes the pope awake.

Araki: Taschen 25th Anniverary Series; ISBN-10: 3822838233.

Araki - I loved Araki's work from the first discovery.
His celebrations of life, sex, death and the base functions are an inspiration - he touches my soul.
Everyday, happysad, bittersweet, joyfulmelancholy - and occasionally downright dirty.
Extra-ordinary, seemingly spontaneous depictions, studies of a 20/21 century man and the world he lives in - the life he leads.
Honest, enthusiastic statements of the things he (we) find dominant in our lives - all the serious trivia we sometimes fail to acknowledge - often deny; flowers, bondage, buildings, erotica, food, lovers, reptiles, sadness in loss, exhibitionism, the whole gangbang of life.
Never mundane - no matter the object/subject of his attention - his desire - the joy of living percolates through his work.
He is bold, daring and original - often opening the door to intimacy - unleashing a rush of deepset erotic imagery.
This book is a rich weave of ideas and experimentation - a summary of his life's work to publication - an anthology of his work to date.
It's the joy of a boy retained in the man - oh! what a lucky guy.

if you like japanese bondage and dirty old man type of stuff this book is for you. I can't really comment on this book because it's just not my thing. i see what dude is going for but i wasn't that interested. tying girls up, trying to make fruit and flowers look like genitalia. not real fun for me. but that's what he's known for. he does it here. if you're a fan im sure you'll like it if not, you could easily pass on this book