Why an Illustrated Botanical Dictionary?

Although largely ignored in its own time, Nakahira Takuma's 1973 essay 'Why an Illustrated Botanical Dictionary?' has in the last decade become established as an important contribution to Japanese image theory. In particular, it has been associated with the transition to postmodernism in Japanese photography and art. This essay was written after the dissolve of the Provoke group and that period of photography. In his essay, Nakahira became critical of his efforts and dismissed his former desire to “shape the world according to his own ideas.” He repudiated the ambiguity of shadow and emotion, advocating instead for juxtapositions of sharp color photographs much like the illustrations in botanical dictionaries. This stance eventually led him to burn many of his prints and negatives. Eager to distance himself from the bure-boke shashin he had helped create and that had been widely adopted even in the commercial realm, Nakahira suffered a creative crisis. In 1973 Nakahira also traveled to Okinawa for the first time, and from 1974 to 1977 he journeyed north through the Okinawa island group, probing the cultural demarcation between the Japanese mainland and these southernmost reaches. 'Why an Illustrated Botanical Dictionary?'  came at a pivotal moment in his life and work.

A Very Good copy in dust jacket showing light wear to edges. One small chip to obi. A Scarce title.