Doors by Yusuke Yamatani

A collection of works by Japanese photographer Yusuke Yamatani.

This book focuses on documenting the European tour of Yamatani's self-portrait piece "Doors," which fuses photography and drum performances. Initially, it was produced in a limited edition of 181 copies as a return gift for crowdfunding to realize a European tour, but due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection and the acceleration of the division of the world, it is said that it is possible to travel freely in Europe by car. This kind of road movie, in which half-naked Asians performed in various places, and a documentary-like photo book will be seen by more people, and will be used to show the past with nostalgia and the future to come. I want you to think about it." With the permission of the supporters, it was decided to change the cover and sell it to the general public.

performance, multiple cameras were set up around the drum set that Yamatani was beating. The photographs taken are constantly printed out from multiple printers via a personal computer. By continuing to beat the drums vigorously, he induces himself into a trance state, and a self-portrait is taken in front of the camera and the audience in which the conscious and unconscious encounters. The audience and the state of the venue are projected.

In September 2019, Yamatani embarked on a month-long tour of six European countries where he performed this performance. A total of 3,563 cuts of ridges and valleys were collected in a total of 8 performances over a distance of 4,980km. In addition to the photos taken at the performance, the photo book contains snapshots taken on the way from city to city, landscapes, meals, hotels, and the people I met. In addition, flyers announcing the event, picture postcards written from the field, photograms recording the traces of drumming, and photographs received from local people after returning to Japan are also important elements in composing this photo book. there is The volume also includes a 20,000-character interview by Yamatani himself, summarizing the current view of photography that the photographer himself has come to see over the course of about two years, fumbling around and throwing himself into the world. Finished in one work.

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Title: Doors
Artist: Yusuke Yamatani
Gallery Yamatani, 2020
Softcover with booklet, text in English and Japanese
297 x 210 mm, 400 pages
¥10,000 + tax