Waterfall Rapture Postcards of Falling Water My Addiction My Collection My Edition

Item Details

Tokyo, Shinchosha Company, 1996

Highly scarce first hardcover edition, first printing. SIGNED in Japanese Kanji characters by Tadanori Yokoo in silver marker on inside front flyleaf. In dust jacket with the oversize blue wraparound obi-band intact, text in Japanese with English translation. 286 pp, printed on thick coated stock paper, color illustrations throughout, essay by Hiroshi Aramata. 10 1/4 x 7 1/2 in (26.04 x 26.67 cm)
Condition: Dust jacket shows some wear at edges, obi-band has some soiling and wear, tear on backside. Front and back flysheets show foxing and toning, toning to edges of first few front and last pages of book, all color illustrations very clean.

Regarded as one of the most significant art photography books of the 20th century, this volume showcases 1,300 color plates featuring postcards of waterfalls, all compiled, photographed, and assembled by Tadanori Yokoo. The images, appearing as miniature reproductions, essentially photographs of photographs of photographs of photographs, emphasize the unique connection between postcards, photography, graphic design, and the act of collecting. Originally acquired as references for his paintings, Yokoo began asking everyone he knew to send him postcards of waterfalls. Once compiled, only a dozen or so of the postcards were ever used for his paintings, and this vast collection became its own passionate obsession for the artist.

Tadanori Yokoo is a Japanese graphic designer, illustrator, printmaker and painter who first gained notoriety in the mid-1960s for his unique style of psychedelia. Rooted in Surrealism, American Pop Art, contemporary Japanese culture, and ukiyo-e prints, Yokoo's work has made a lasting contribution to popular culture.