JEREMY STIGTER
VISITING MISTER UEDA
Bublished by Zen photo Gallery, 2021
Book Size 20.4 × 17 cm
Pages 136 pages, 56 images
Softcover
Language English, Japanese and French
Limited Edition of 700
ISBN: 978–4–910244–03–7
This photobook represents a delightful, playful homage to one of the great masters of Japanese photography: Shoji Ueda. Carrying an introductory letter written in Japanese, Dutch photographer Jeremy Stigter visited Shoji in Tottori Prefecture in the fall of 1993. Via the letter, Stigter asked three questions and asked Ueda to take his photographs in the nearby dunes that had served as the location of so many of Ueda's unforgettable photographs. They picked up a fold-up umbrella along the way, which – unable to withstand the harsh winds that day – brought a surreal touch of humor to Stigter's images.
“I never got around to showing Mister Ueda the pictures which he had so very sportingly made possible. it was only the announcement of his death, in July 2000, at the age of 87, that brought to mind the work we had created together, and I thought it only fitting to organize an exhibition showing the work now also contained within this book. ”
— from Jeremy Stigter's foreword
In addition to the series Stigter and Ueda took together, the book also includes photographs of Ueda's handwritten replies to Stigter's questions, short texts by Stigter about two trips to Tottori (once to photograph Shoji Ueda, the second time to visit the Shoji Ueda museum ) plus an anecdotal text by Shoji Ueda's grandson Yutaka Masutani.
Publisher statement
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This photo book is a delightful and playful tribute to one of the great masters of Japanese photography: Shoji Ueda. Armed with a letter of introduction written in Japanese, Dutch photographer Jeremy Stigter visited Shoji in Tottori Prefecture in the fall of 1993. In the letter, Stigter posed three questions and asked Ueda to take his photos in the nearby dunes that had provided the setting for so many of Ueda’s unforgettable photos. Along the way, they picked up a folding umbrella that, unable to withstand the day’s fierce winds, lent a touch of surreal humor to Stigter’s images.
"It was only the news of his death in July 2000, aged 87, that reminded me of the work we had done together, and I thought it entirely appropriate to organise an exhibition showing the work that is now in this book."
- excerpt from the foreword by Jeremy Stigter
In addition to the series that Stigter and Ueda made together, the book also includes photographs of Ueda's handwritten responses to Stigter's questions, short texts by Stigter about two trips to Tottori (once to photograph Shoji Ueda, the second time to visit the Shoji Ueda Museum), and an anecdotal text by Shoji Ueda's grandson, Yutaka Masutani.
Publisher 's text .