Our Thursday series features must-read books from each branch of the art bookshop NADiff. This week's recommendation is "Painting and Weaving: Yohji Yamamoto and Yuka Asakura." It's introduced by Gallery 5, our Shinjuku branch (Tokyo Opera City Tower, 3F, 3-20-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku). ■ "Painting and Weaving: Yohji Yamamoto and Yuka Asakura"

This book is the official catalog for the exhibition currently being held at the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, exploring the appeal and essence of Yohji Yamamoto, a leader in the Japanese fashion design world. The exhibition venue, featuring works by young painter Yuka Asakura, freely transitions from two-dimensional to three-dimensional expression, creating an exciting exhibition space that will captivate not only fashion lovers familiar with Yohji Yamamoto, but also art lovers. The catalog, meanwhile, is primarily composed of paintings by Yamamoto and Asakura, so some visitors may be surprised by Yamamoto's brushstrokes as they sweep across the pages. This allows visitors to step back from the spatial presentation and focus on each individual piece. In addition to the artworks, the catalog also includes interviews with the two artists, commentary by editorial engineer Seigo Matsuoka, who coined the exhibition title "Painting and Weaving" ("Painting" means painting, while "Weaving" means momentum, opportunity, or weaving (clothing)), and commentary by Masafumi Suzuki, editor-in-chief of GQ JAPAN. Each page uses a variety of different paper types and sizes, and the binding is unusual for a traditional exhibition catalog. While at first glance, the simple, black file encapsulates the boundless creative energy of Yohji Yamamoto, a man whose career spans 40 years. The exhibition "Painting and Weaving: Yohji Yamamoto and Yuka Asakura" runs until March 12 at the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery.
【Book Information】
"Painting and the Weapon: Yamamoto Yohji & Asakura Yuka"
Publisher: Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery
Language: Japanese & English
File binding / 72 pages / 320 x 250 mm
Published: December 2016
Price: 2,593 yen
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【Exhibition Information】
"Painting and the Weapon: Yamamoto Yohji & Asakura Yuka"
Venue: Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery 3F Galleries 1 & 2
Address: 3-20-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Dates: December 10th - March 12th 2017
Hours: 11:00 - 19:00 (until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Last admission 30 minutes before closing.)
Admission: Adults 1,200 yen, High school and university students 800 yen, Junior high school students and younger free
Closed: Mondays (or the following Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday), February 12th