SEIJI KURATA - FLASH UP

SEIJI KURATA
FLASH UP

Published by Zen Foto Gallery, 2013
Book size 38.3 x 26.5 x 3 cm
Pages 184 pages
140 images
Hardcover with a hardcover slipcase
Language English and Japanese
Limited edition of 750
New edition

Seiji Kurata, a photographer who started his career having workshops with Daido Moriyama and Araki Nobyoshi, binds together a photographic exploration of the Tokyo nightclub and underworld scene in the 1970s with Flash Up . This edition allows us to dive into the tattooed yakuza life as much as the chaotic imagery of street fights, car accidents and also of the countryside.

“Flash Up has a style, an attitude and consciousness that does not change from the beginning. It was accumulated during those four years after starting Street Photo Random in 1975. Above all, in the production of these “snapshot” photographs I searched for footholds whose existence was unknown, while ignoring the haphazardly distributed noise and information of our everyday world. This world of photography is amazing. Here is the strangeness of the unknown and the surprise of the unknown. Even though it lasts only a moment, this brightly shining band that stretches across the sky, it can tell the story of all existence, all affirmed and all accepted.” artist's afterwords.

The book was originally published in 1980 and won the Kurata the Ihei Kimura Prize the same year. The new edition of 2013 includes above the prints of the original book two essays by Seiji Kurata framed in a beautiful hard case with a fabric cover.

———-

Seiji Kurata, a photographer who began his career with Daido Moriyama and Araki Nobyoshi, creating a photographic exploration of Tokyo's nightclub and underground scene in the 1970s with Flash Up. This edition allows us to delve as much into the tattooed lives of the yakuza as into the chaotic imagery of street fights, car crashes, and also the countryside.

“Flash Up has a style, an attitude and a consciousness that has not changed since the beginning. It has accumulated during these four years since the launch of Street Photo Random in 1975. Above all, in the production of these “instantaneous” photographs, I have searched for anchor points whose existence was unknown, while ignoring the noise and information randomly distributed in our daily world. This world of photography is incredible. Here is the strangeness of the unknown and the surprise of the unexpected. Even if it lasts only for an instant, this brilliantly shining group that stretches into the sky, it can tell the story of all existence, all affirmed and all accepted” the artist’s epilogue.

The book was originally published in 1980 and won the Kurata the Ihei Kimura Prize that same year. The new 2013 edition includes above the photographs from the original book as well as two essays by Seiji Kurata framed in a beautiful hard case with a cloth cover.