KENNA, Michael - Des Oiseaux

Statement by the photographer, Michael KENNA

"In all of my work there is a certain prevailing theme which has something to do with memory, with time, with change.” (© Michael KENNA)

Background information

One of his last photo book projects Xavier Barral himself ha initiated are the 'Des Oiseaux' (engl.: on Birds) series done by well known intenational photographers. In this series, 'birds' photographs are published in same sized monographical photo books. The different photographers are showing birds, they photographed in their typical style.

Content

"A figure of the young Japanese photography scene, Yoshinori MIZUTANI revisits the urban space of his city, Tokyo. Steeped in the Japanese pictorial tradition, the photographer explores Tokyo’s daily life and captures scenes that verge on the fantastic. His framings and bright colours confer an element of otherness to his images. Forms, textures, colourful hues, and depth of field develop a visual vocabulary that is both poetic and pop.  Visions from dreams or nightmares, through their presence, Yoshinori MIZUTANI's birds saturate the world of the city and restore its mystery. 
This publication is part of the 'Des oiseaux' (Engl.: On birds) collection celebrating, through the vision of different artists, their immense presence in a world where they are now vulnerable.  Accompanying these photographs, the ornithologist Guilhem Lesaffre writes a special essay. For this title, he sheds light on the social instincts of birds." (publisher's note, © Éditions Barral, 2019)

Variant

Accompanying the release of the book 'Des Oiseaux' by Michael KENNA, the publisher offers a limited edition box set including a copy of the publication and a signed & numbered photographic silverprint 'Leaning Agave and Flying Bird, Nice (1996). Details: Limited edition box set in a slipcase, including the book 'Des Oiseaux' with a signed and numbered from 1-30 silverprint, made by Frédéric Jourda of Picto lab in Paris. Print size: 20 x 25,5 cm.

The participating photographers at the 'Des Oiseaux' photo book project are

• ALBARRÀN CABRERA
  ITURBIDE, Graciela
  JEFFREYS, Leila
  KENNA, Michael
  MIN, Byung-Hun
  MIZUTANI, Yoshinori
  PLOSSU, Bernard
  SAMMALLAHTI, Pentti
  WEIFENBACH, Terri

Have a look at the volumes of these photographers

• ALBARRÀN CABRERA
  ITURBIDE, Graciela
  JEFFREYS, Leila
  KENNA, Michael
  MIN, Byung-Hun
  MIZUTANI, Yoshinori
  PLOSSU, Bernard
  SAMMALLAHTI, Pentti
  WEIFENBACH, Terri