Araki by Araki, The Photographer’s Personal Selection, 1963-2002, Tokyo: Kodansha, 2003, p. 356 Araki: Self, Life, Death, London: Phaidon, 2005, p. 650
Catalogue Essay
In the following two lots, Tokyo Comedy, 1997, by Nobuyoshi Araki is presented in colour and black and white. Printed from different negatives, these two versions demonstrate Araki’s distinct eroticism. In the chromogenic print, the intensity of the yakuza’s tattoos is accentuated, bringing the moment into a contemporary setting. In the gelatin silver print, the positioning of the figures closer in the foreground, together with the contrast of light and shadows, add to the drama of the scene. These two versions of the same subject provide a glimpse into Araki’s artistic experimentation.
1997 Gelatin silver print, printed later, flush-mounted. Image: 45.4 x 57.3 cm (17 7/8 x 22 1/2 in.) Frame: 54.5 x 67 cm (21 1/2 x 26 3/8 in.) Signed in ink on the recto.
Estimate £20,000 - 30,000 ‡
Sold for £25,000
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