Japan Style by Gian Carlo Calza

by Gian Carlo Calza

Japan Style, written by one of the world's most respected scholars of Japanese art and culture, is an authoritative and wide-ranging visual essay on the aesthetics of Japan.It serves as a unique handbook that aids an understanding of Japanese culture through its architecture, arts, crafts, cinema, and literature. It gives an insight into the essence of Japanese culture, identifying its specific qualities and characteristics from ukiyo-e to Tadao Ando. The author draws connections between art, religion, history, philosophy, and mythology, using the links to frame specific examples of Japanese cultural memes. The book features over 150 illustrations ranging from the traditional to thecontemporary. Japan Style is a perfect introduction to Japanese style and culture.

Genres: Japan, Art, Nonfiction, Design, Art History, Reference, Art Design

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Midori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un saggio adatto a chiunque voglia approcciarsi al meraviglioso, quanto contraddittorio e sconosciuto, universo giapponese. E lo fa con una sensibilità spesso estranea alla nostra epoca e società, con uno sguardo attento e curioso, trapelandone il mistero.

[Deborah Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great photos. Made me wish I could build a home overlooking a mountain side with floor to ceiling doors on both sides of a room, one looking out to a garden.

[Roxana Chirilă · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not at all a bad introduction to Japanese art and concepts, even if it is slightly exalted at times. It contains a number of essays on different themes (starting with the basic concepts of Japanese art and ending with the lives of famous authors), which are interesting and fun to read.

The text part of the book, however, isn't all that long: instead, it's filled with beautiful photography and art which allows one to actually see what's discussed in the essays, whether it be kimonos, architecture, paintings or photography.

A beautiful volume, which makes a beautiful gift.

[Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a very lovely book written by an Italian -- which makes his insights into Japanese culture a little bit different than what we're used to hearing from anglos. The illustrations are beautiful and I learned some new Japanese masters, like Zeami.