Each bookstore will act as a concierge, recommending "the book you should read now" to FASHION HEADLINE readers. Every Saturday, we will introduce books selected by Shelf (3-7-4 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo), a bookstore in Harajuku/Gaienmae that specializes in foreign books.



■ "Transforming Photography" by Thomas Ruff

One of the most influential artists in photography today, Thomas Ruff is redefining the conceptual possibilities of the medium, simultaneously capturing and challenging its essence as a means of visual experience. His previously published works are characterized by a radical departure from conventional photographic practices, exploring various photographic genres including portraiture, nudes, landscapes, and architectural photography using both analog and digital techniques, culling images from scientific archives, print media, and the internet.

Published in conjunction with the exhibition "Transforming Photography" at David Zwirner Hong Kong (May 22 - June 29, 2019), this book presents a selection of Thomas Ruff's best-known works as well as his new "Tripe / Ruff" series, begun in 2018. The series is based on negatives of the Linnaeus Tripe, taken in India and Burma in the 1850s.




Also published in written form for the first time is a conversation with curator Okwui Enwezor in connection with Ruff's retrospective at Haus der Kunst in Munich (17 February – 20 May 2012), which provides a fascinating and dynamic introduction to the artist, examining his artistic practice and inspiration.