Synopses & Reviews
Book Overview
This beautiful guide to Tokyo’s most exciting art galleries is a must-read for art lovers planning trips to Tokyo or looking to understand the art scene in contemporary Japan from the comfort of their armchairs. In-depth interviews with curators and essays by leading art critics finally bring these exciting art spaces to life for an English-speaking audience.
More information online at: http://artspacetokyo.com
Book Specifications
- 12 highly detailed, beautifully rendered maps of neighborhoods both on and off the beaten path in Tokyo
- insider information into the best cafes, restaurants and shops in these neighborhoods
- over 50 beautiful pen and ink illustrations of the art spaces and interviewees
- lavishly bound in cloth with a silk screened cover and thick, high-quality papers throughout
Reviews and Press
“Much of the charm of the guide is in the little observations, the sly asides and the high and wide originality of the artists, whom Mod and Rawlings capture and pin to the page like a collection of polychromatic butter?ies. This gorgeous book is a working guide, but it’s also a work of art. ”
— GRAPHIC SPOTLIGHT, Kirkus Review
“... an unexpectedly stunning bit of cultural traveloguefrom Chin Music Press.”
— KHOI VINH, Subtraction
“A new guide to the Tokyo art scene points the way.”
— BENJI LANYADO, The Guardian
“Art Space Tokyo ... is a gem of a publication satisfying a longstanding need for English-language material on the terrain it tackles.”
— NEILTON CLARKE, Art Monthly Australia
“Lovely design with care and an eye for detail make it a total must have piece in my opinion.”
— ULESHKA ASHER, WorldChanging
“[I]nsight into the city's world of contemporary art ... readers are treated to a variety of revealing interviews with gallery owners and art fair operators, among others, as well as essays by art critics and other specialists.”
— CRISTOPH MARK, Daily Yomiuri
Extended Description
Art Space Tokyo is the first book of its kind to capture with both a critical and broad sweeping eye the current state of art in Tokyo. Art Space Tokyo introduces readers to twelve of the city's most distinctive and exciting galleries and museums through a compilation of interviews with the directors and curators of each of these spaces. Readers are given rare insight into why these spaces exist, how they became what they are and where they're heading. Furthermore, through other interviews with the directors of auction houses, art fairs, collectors and media figures, as well as six essays by art specialists, Art Space Tokyo delves into the complexity of Tokyo's resurgent contemporary art scene.
Editorial and Design
Editor and co-author Ashley Rawlingsis a specialist in postwar Japanese art. After graduating with a BA in Japanese studies from the University of Cambridge, he moved to Tokyo in 2005, where he works as a freelance editor, writer and translator. His writing on the Tokyo art scene appears in several Japanese and international printed and online publications, including The Japan Times, ART iT, ArtAsiaPacificand Artforum.com.
Designer and co-author Craig Mod(craigmod.com) is a Tokyo based print designer and online developer. He is a cofounder of Chin Music Press (chinmusicpress.com), an independent press putting out beautifully made books on Japan. He is also a cofounder of Hitotoki (hitotoki.org), a website creating literary experience maps imbuing otherwise anonymous cityspaces with individual experiences. He was awarded a Fabrica fellowship in 2005 and served as a judge for the 85th ADC awards.
Photos, art maps, and detailed information at: http://artspacetokyo.com
Review
"Art Space Tokyo...is a gem of a publication satisfying a longstanding need for English-language material on the terrain it tackles." Neilton Clarke, Art Monthly Australia
Review
"Lovely design with care and an eye for detail make it a total must have piece in my opinion." Uleshka Asher, WorldChanging
Review
"Much of the charm of the guide is in the little observations, the sly asides and the high and wide originality of the artists, whom Mod and Rawlings capture and pin to the page like a collection of polychromatic butterflies. This gorgeous book is a working guide, but it's also a work of art." Kirkus Review
Review
"[I]nsight into the city's world of contemporary art...readers are treated to a variety of revealing interviews with gallery owners and art fair operators, among others, as well as essays by art critics and other specialists." Cristoph Mark, Daily Yomiuri
Review
"A new guide to the Tokyo art scene points the way." Benji Lanyado, The Guardian
Synopsis
Art Space Tokyo acts as your 272 page personal guide and interpreter, connecting you with the neighborhoods and figures behind some of the most inspiring art spaces in this colossal city.
Each of the featured spaces has been rendered as a striking illustration by Nobumasa Takahashi. The book covers art spaces in neighborhoods such as Ginza, Yanaka, Gaienmae, Omotesando, Harajuku, Roppongi, Asakusa and more. The neighborhood surrounding each art space has been meticulously mapped with recommendations for the best food, coffee and sights to enjoy in an afternoon of art viewing.
Whether you live in Japan or not, if you want insight into the Tokyo art world, this is the book for you.
Synopsis
This beautiful guide to Tokyoandrsquo;s most exciting art galleries is a must-read for art lovers planning trips to Tokyo or looking to understand the art scene in contemporary Japan from the comfort of their armchairs. In-depth interviews with curators and essays by leading art critics finally bring these exciting art spaces to life for an English-speaking audience.
andnbsp;
andldquo;Much of the charm of the guide is in the little observations, the sly asides and the high and wide originality of the artists, whom Mod and Rawlings capture and pin to the page like a collection of polychromatic butter?ies.andnbsp;This gorgeous book is a working guide, but itandrsquo;s also a work of art.andnbsp;andrdquo;
andmdash;andnbsp;GRAPHIC SPOTLIGHT,andnbsp;Kirkus Review
andnbsp;
andldquo;... an unexpectedly stunning bit of cultural traveloguefrom Chin Music Press.andrdquo;
andmdash;andnbsp;KHOI VINH,andnbsp;Subtraction
andnbsp;
andldquo;A new guide to the Tokyo art scene points the way.andrdquo;
andmdash;andnbsp;BENJI LANYADO,andnbsp;The Guardian
andnbsp;
andldquo;Art Space Tokyo ... isandnbsp;a gem of a publication satisfying a longstanding need for English-language material on the terrain it tackles.andrdquo;
andmdash;andnbsp;NEILTON CLARKE,andnbsp;Art Monthly Australia
andnbsp;
andldquo;Lovely design with care and an eye for detail make itandnbsp;a total must haveandnbsp;piece in my opinion.andrdquo;
andmdash;andnbsp;ULESHKA ASHER,andnbsp;WorldChanging
andnbsp;
andldquo;[I]nsight into the city's world of contemporary artandnbsp;... readers are treated to a variety of revealing interviews with gallery owners and art fair operators, among others, as well as essays by art critics and other specialists.andrdquo;
andmdash;andnbsp;CRISTOPH MARK,andnbsp;Daily Yomiuri
andnbsp;
andldquo;I have taken delivery of my copy of Art Space Tokyo, and I am thrilled! ... Itandrsquo;s beautifully put together and a real joy to read and handle.andrdquo;
andmdash;andnbsp;MELANIE KATSALIDIS,andnbsp;a reader
andnbsp;
Editor Ashley Rawlings is a specialist in Japanese postwar modern and contemporary art. He works as the editor of TABlog, the online magazine of Tokyo Art Beat, Japanandrsquo;s leading art website.
Designer and co-authorandnbsp;Craig Mod is a Tokyo based art director. More of his work can be seen at http://craigmod.com
andnbsp;
Photos, art maps, and detailed information at: http://artspacetokyo.com
About the Author
Ashley Rawlings is a specialist in Japanese postwar modern and contemporary art. He works as the editor of TABlog, the online magazine of Tokyo Art Beat, Japan's leading art website. He has written for several art publications, including ART iT Magazine, the Japan Times, PingMag, the Architect's Newspaper and Saatchi Online.