{"title":"Roshin Books","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9784909742049","title":"Swaying Flowers","description":"Ayako Endo’s photobook “Swaying Flowers” deals with one of the most ubiquitous themes in visual media – flowers. Endo, whose work as a photographer range from the world of art to the world of fashion, took a unique approach to capturing her subjects. After taking photographs of flowers, she printed them on fabric, tore the fabric surrounding the images, and scanned the results. This elaborate process softens the mechanical nature of the photographic images and produces captivating colors and textures that almost add an element of touch to the act of seeing. Endo’s subjects subjects range from simple bouquets to wild bushes and tended gardens. Whether close-up, blurred or well-composed, there is an immediacy and directness to her images that contrasts with the conventionally serene (or sexually charged) atmosphere of flower photography.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56311049191797,"sku":"9784909742049","price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"9784990723071","title":"Go To Become","description":"In 2011 Jörgen Axelvall moved to Tokyo after living in NYC for 15 years. The work in Go To Become is Axelvall’s expression of his feelings as a newcomer to Japan.  It is in every aspect biographical.  The oxymoronic combination of feeling excluded and lonely on the crowded streets of Tokyo led Axelvall to seek out desolate and quiet environments.  These places soon became his personal sanctuaries where he would find refuge and peace of mind from the hustle of the city, often in the middle of night. Several of these photographs earned Axelvall the New Exposure Award from US Vogue and Bottega Veneta in 2013.  When asked by the jury for a brief description Axelvall said the following: \n\nI live in a big city\nthe biggest in the world by some measure\nI’m a foreigner here\nat times I feel trapped, alienated and lonely\namongst the millions of people calling this home\n\nThese images were all photographed in central Tokyo\nnot far from my home in Shibuya\nat the sanctuaries\nwhere I find peace\n\nA lover of poetry and literature, Axelvall later teamed up with Mutsuo Takahashi, one of the most prominent and prolific poets in contemporary Japan.  With more than 130 books published, including dozens of poetry collections, Takahashi’s poetry successfully spans all the major Japanese poetic forms.  After listening to Axelvall’s story and looking at the photographs, Takahashi wrote the poem “Go To Become” [in Japanese ★★★★★] specially for this project.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56311225713013,"sku":"9784990723071","price":61.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9784990723071_16fced00-38fa-4603-b9e6-b93024058253.jpg?v=1786032208"},{"product_id":"trace-of-fog","title":"Trace of Fog","description":"A deep fog usually envelops Mount Kirigamine (literally “Summit of Fog”). Once the mountain is covered by the fog, all boundaries disappear, and the fog seems to extend into infinity.  \n\nA while ago, the mountain was home to a ski resort, large enough to include two ski jumping platforms.  The mountain was a candidate to play host to the Olympic Winter Games. Further back in time, the entire mountain was once designated as hunting grounds.  The Kamakura shogunate 800 years ago organized large hunting events in which the samurai competed with each other.  Shinto rites held at temple ruins still remaining in the mountain pastures convey these ancient times to our present age.  \n\nToday, too, there are a number of building complexes on the mountain that have outlived their usefulness. These abandoned structures appear like fresh ruins that will tell future generations of our times.  \n\n“Trace” is a word used in mountaineering.  It is used to denote alterations made by those who came before you.  As climbers move through a mountain, they effect various changes.  Paths change or disappear.  They overlap each other like layers on a rock bed, their surface covered by the fog.  \n\nThe fog lasts mere moments.  It comes then disappears.  It seems to swallow all and everything but soon vanishes into nothingness.  It reminds me of our human existence.  Ancient ruins and present buildings, too, are only transient presences on the mountain’s surface.  Measured in the time scale of the mountain, humanity’s traces are but a momentary presence, just like fog.  \n\nFog has no beginning, no end.  I follow the path, looking for the traces it has left behind.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57492178076021,"sku":"9784990723095","price":39.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9784990723095.jpg?v=1786529003"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/publisher-roshin-books.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}