New Arrivals

SignedRare Spirit Away

Ruishen HONG, Wenhao ZHOU

$43.88

This Week's Restock

Hojo

Mayumi SUZUKI

$33.17

Highlighted Artist

Born Fujikura Yōko, in 1947 in Nitta District, Gunma and raised in Yokosuka, Miyako Ishiuchi later adopted her Mother's madien name as part of her professional identity. She is amongst one of the most significant Japanese female photographers to emerge from post-war Japan.

Born during America's occupation of Japan in the post World War II era, Miyako Ishiuchi grew up in a country whose culture had been dramatically altered through the presence of the military servicemen living on the nearby and surrounding naval bases. The "Americanization of Japan" had a profound effect on Miyako Ishiuchi as a young child and would later inspire her to create her first body of photographic work Yokosuka Story produced in 1976-1977.

Her grainy, black and white photographs became part of the movement which saw photographers such as Daido Moriyama and Shomei Tomatsu use the camera as a means to confront and express their own individual realities of Japan's post war trauma. Gaining recognition for her work Miyako Ishiuchi was awarded the prestigious 4th Kimura Ihei Memorial Photographic Award in 1979 and that same year was included as the only female photographer in a group exhibtion of 18 men at the International Center of Photography in New York's exhibtion "Japan: A Self Portrait".

She has exhibited widely both locally and internationally; representing Japan at the 2005 Venice Biennale and was the recipient of the 2014 Hasselblad Award.

Notable works include Apartment (1977-1978), Endless Night (1978-1980), 1.9.4.7 (1988-90), Scars (1991-2002), Mother's (2000-20059, ひろしま/ hiroshima (2007-2014) and Frida (2013).

Highlighted Item

At best, the silk kimono has a lifespan of three generations. From grandmother, to mother, down to daughter - roughly a hundred years. Beyond that, it would not be fit for wearing. One formal kimono of superb craftsmanship that I received had cotton filling in the lining of the skirt hem, identical patterns on the outer material and lining, and was gorgeously embroidered with flowers and plovers; a kimono likey worn by an individual of high standing. As a section of it was damaged and could not be worn, I decided to take it apart and have the fabric repurposed into some other article of clothing. But when I pulled on the seam, it disintegrated as though the very foundation of the fiber had crumbed. I let out a gasp. The kimono was a historical artifact that should not have been meddled with. Proving itself to be well over a hudnred years old, there was little else I could do but apologize to that crumbling, disintegrating silk cloth.

-Excerpt Garments of Life afterword by Ishiuchi Miyako

Ishiuchi Miyako's Childhood Garments presents a series of portraits which delve into the power of objects and memories. Tied alongside her images which capture the personal artifacts of subjects as private as her mother to famed individuals within the public sphere; Frida Kahlo, the photographs bring forth an intimacy shared between a person and an object into a realm of public experience. Working with Shinjoji Temple located in Kanazawa, Ishiuchi’s Childhood Garments illustrates a collection of kimono worn and created specifically for the young. Known as hyakutoku kimono and semamori, the portraits capture the embodied thoughts, prayers and lives of both community and family for the new born child.

Best Sellers This Month

Restock/Best of Sasuke

Masahisa FUKASE

$36.85 $31.33

Signed Vocalise

Kotori KAWASHIMA

$24.32

Photography & art in books

shashasha is an online bookshop based in Tokyo, Japan.

Since shashasha’s launch in 2012, we have specialized in photobooks and artbooks by a wide range of artists from all over the world. Our lineup includes new publications and self-published works as well as second-hand, rare or out-of-print books by newcomers, established artists and legendary masters.

Each book available on shashasha has been hand-selected and carefully considered. Based in Japan, we make use of our unique perspective and expertise to offer a diverse and enriching catalogue featuring works by interesting publishers and artists from Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia and the Americas.

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