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.



■ "Howling Winds" by Vasantha Yogananthan

This is a collection of works by Vasantha Yogananthan, a French photographer who was selected for Magnum's "30 Under 30" award and is also the co-founder of the French independent publishing house CHOSE COMMUNE. From September 3rd to 29th, Chanel Nexus Hall in Ginza will be hosting "A Myth of Two Souls," his first solo exhibition in Japan. This book is the fifth chapter of the long-term project "A Myth of Two Souls," a contemporary retelling of the Ramayana, a seven-chapter Hindu scripture and ancient Indian epic poem originally written by the Sanskrit poet Valmiki around 300 BC. Each chapter is a separate photo book. Since 2013, the artist has traveled from north to south across India, tracing the path of the Ramayana and drawing inspiration from its influences as he lived with local people. The book skillfully weaves together the layers of this timeless story through vibrantly colored photographs, illustrations, and indigenous imagery.









Through such direction, the film deliberately blurs the line between fiction and reality.

The ending of the previous film, "DANDAKA," which is the fourth chapter, ends with the demon king Ravana abducting Prince Rama's wife, Sita. While Prince Rama is deeply heartbroken, hundreds of thousands of animals gather from all over the world to search for Sita. They know that in the distance, there is the glittering island of Lanka, where Ravana resides.

Photographed in Tamil Nadu, eastern India, and along the coastline of Sri Lanka, "HOWLING WINDS" combines color photographs and hand-painted acrylic paintings to convey the magical world of the "Ramayana." The Ramayana has been rewritten and reinterpreted many times over the years, and this collection of stories has been newly rewritten by Indian author Arshia Sattar.

This project, "A Myth of Two Souls," has been in development since 2016 and is planned to ultimately be published in seven volumes.