Sumimasen

IPG Project - Yoshi and Tamara Kametani

ISBN 10: 8293341084 / ISBN 13: 9788293341086

Published by Editions du LIC, 2014

About this Item

Unpaginated photobook (96 pages). Printed board cover with a little spotting. Internally in fine unmarked condition.

Seller Inventory # 010266

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Sumimasen
• Publisher: Editions du LIC
• Publication Date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 8293341084
• ISBN 13: 9788293341086
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Photography

About this title

Synopsis

An artist's book produced by IPG Project (Yoshi and Tamara Kametani.) "The word Sumimasen - I am sorry - is used in Japanese society to express both apology and gratitude. It anchors a formal code of behavior which is mainly used in public interactions and uncommon within intimate relationships. This reflects a unification of social behavior that can be seen as a mask, thus further alienating the private from the public. This plurality of attitudes in Japanese society is recognized by the terms tatemae (behaviour in public) and honne (true feelings); also known as putting on and off a mask. Sumimasen by the IPG Project questions the concept of privacy and identity through Mayura (a pornographic actress living in Tokyo). By obscuring Mayura's face with a mask, the photographers seek to challenge the very notion of identity. Mayura works mostly from home with multiple cameras monitoring her 24 hours a day. This footage is streamed to a website where people subscribe to watch her going about her daily life. In a time when the boundaries between private and public have been breached, it might be the privacy of our thoughts that constitutes the true and ultimately, last remaining, meaning of privacy." Photographs by Yoshi and Tamara Kametani. From an edition limited to 460 copies. 96 pages, 16 of which have been silk screened with UV varnish; 55 color plates; 7 x 9.5 inches.