Tokyo Compression Three

Michael Wolf

ISBN 10: 9881531764 / ISBN 13: 9789881531766

Published by Asia One Books, 2012

Leichte Kratzer / Abnutzungen / Druckstellen; Vergilbt / ausgeblichen. The third edition of this photobook classic showcases Michael Wolf's striking portraits of individuals navigating the Tokyo subway, trapped between glass, steel, and fellow commuters. These compelling images have garnered numerous awards and have been exhibited worldwide. The first two editions sold out, prompting Wolf to revisit Tokyo to further explore this theme. The newly released "Tokyo Compression Three" is a completely revised edition featuring many previously unreleased images and a new "hidden track" at the book's conclusion. While other artists like Bruce Davidson and Walker Evans have tackled subway themes, Wolf's approach is unique; he focuses on the psychological state and collective condition of urban dwellers rather than the physical environment. By eliminating distractions, he emphasizes faces and figures, creating intense images that poignantly reflect the inner lives of his subjects. Accompanying the visuals, Christian Schüle's essay, "TOKYO SUBWAY DREAMS," offers a somber reflection on the pervasive loneliness experienced in modern megacities. Seller Inventory # 09b6d939-a1df-48ce-b853-2995f088e659

Synopsis:

This is the third edition of Tokyo Compression. With 'Tokyo Compression' Michael Wolf struck a nerve. His portraits of people who are on their way in the Tokyo subway, constrained between glass, steel and fellow travelers, have won many awards and were shown in exhibitions around the globe. The first two editions of this book are sold out. And the topic kept haunting Michael Wolf as well. Again he returned to Tokyo in order to immerse in the subsurface insanity. Now with 'Tokyo Compression Three' the third, completely revised edition of the classic is published, with many so far unreleased images and an entirely new 'hidden track' at the end of the book. Before Michael Wolf other artists have created subway series, among them famous names such as Bruce Davidson and Walker Evans, the concept as well as the metonymy of 'Compression' however is new. Michael Wolf is not interested in seat cushions, graffiti, interior architecture or the traveler s relation to that. He rather discovered the subway system as suitable place in order to investigate mental state and aggregate condition of the city people. Wolf leaves out all accessories, focuses just faces and figures. With his radical aesthetics he creates enormously intensive pictures that in a distressing, yes shocking manner directly aim into the portrayed people's inner life. With his accompanying essay TOKYO SUBWAY DREAMS Christian Schüle delivers a gloomy diagnosis to the mass loneliness in modern megacities.

About the Author: The focus of the German photographer Michael Wolf's work is life in mega cities. Many of his projects document the architecture and the vernacular culture of metropolises. Wolf grew up in Canada, Europe and the United States, studying at UC Berkeley and at the Folkwang School with Otto Steinert in Essen, Germany. He moved to Hong Kong in 1994 where he worked for 8 years as contract photographer for Stern magazine. Since 2001, Wolf has been focusing on his own projects, many of which have appeared as books. Wolf's work has been exhibited in numerous locations, including the Venice Bienniale for Architecture, Aperture Gallery, New York, Museum Centre Vapriikki, Tampere, Museum for Work in Hamburg, Germany, Hong Kong Shenzhen Biennial, and the Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago. His work is held in permanent collections across the USA and Germany, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Brooklyn Museum, the San Jose Museum of Art, California, the Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, Museum Folkwang, Essen and the German Museum for Architecture, Frankfurt. He has won a first prize in the World Press Photo Award Competition on two occasions (2005 & 2010) and an honorable mention (2011). In 2010, Wolf was shortlisted for the Prix Pictet photography prize.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Tokyo Compression Three
Publisher: Asia One Books
Publication Date: 2012
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Fine