MASAHISA FUKASE
RAVENS
Published by MACK, 2017
Book Size 26.3 x 26.3 cm
Pages 136 pages
Hardcover
Language English, Japanese
Good condition
"Ravens" is one of the defining bodies of work in the history of photography and a high point in the photo book genre. This accumulation of accolades, and the passing of time, have obscured much of the fascinating detail which explains the artist's pre-occupation with this motif throughout his work. It was not simply a reflection of the existential angst and anhedonia he suffered throughout his life but manifested in artistic self-identification with the raven and ultimately spiraled into a solitary existence and artistic practice on the edge of madness. And all this before an untimely accident in 1992, a fall down the stairs of his favorite bar, resulted in him spending the final twenty years before his death with his consciousness suspended and in medical isolation. Fukase became the singular raven frozen by his camera and immortalized on the cover of his most famous book." -Tomo Kosuga from his essay Cries of Solitude [2017]
Consistently proclaimed as one of the most important photobooks in the history of the medium, Ravens by Japanese photographer Masahisa Fukase was first published in 1986 and the two subsequent editions were both short print runs that sold out immediately. This new edition edition contains a new text by Tomo Kosuga positioning the body of work in Fukase's work and life, illustrated with numerous recently discovered photographs and drawings. Fukase's haunting series of work was made between 1975 and 1986 in the aftermath of a divorce and was apparently triggered by a mournful train journey to his hometown. The coastal landscapes of Hokkaido serve as the backdrop for his profoundly dark and impressionistic photographs of ominous flocks of crows. The work has been interpreted as an ominous allegory for postwar Japan.
― Statement from the distributor
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“Ravens” is one of the major bodies of work in the history of photography and a high point of the photobook genre. This accumulation of distinctions and the passage of time have obscured much of the fascinating detail that explains the artist’s preoccupation with this motif throughout his work. It was not simply a reflection of the existential angst and anhedonia he suffered throughout his life, but manifested itself in an artistic self-identification with the raven and ultimately resulted in a solitary existence and an artistic practice on the verge of madness. And all this before an untimely accident in 1992, a fall down the stairs of his favorite bar, caused him to spend the last twenty years before his death with his consciousness suspended and in medical isolation. Fukase became the singular raven frozen by his camera and immortalized on the cover of his most famous book.”—Tomo Kosuga from his essay Cries of Solitude [2017]
Consistently heralded as one of the most important photobooks in the history of the medium, Ravens by Japanese photographer Masahisa Fukase was first published in 1986 and the two subsequent editions were both small print runs that sold out immediately. This new edition features a new text by Tomo Kosuga positioning the body of work within Fukase’s oeuvre and life, illustrated with numerous newly discovered photographs and drawings. Fukase’s haunting series of works was made between 1975 and 1986 following a divorce and was apparently sparked by a sad train journey back to his hometown. The coastal landscapes of Hokkaido serve as a backdrop for his deeply dark, impressionistic photographs of eerie flocks of crows. The work has been interpreted as an eerie allegory of postwar Japan.
- Distributor's statement