Mark Holborn

Moriyama: Quartet

An anthology of the four seminal photobooks that form the foundation of Daido Moriyama's photographic career: Japan, A Photo Theater, A Hunter, Farewell Photography and Light and Shadow. Once regarded as the most challenging and radical of the photographers to emerge from Japan in the post-war period, Daido Moriyama is now accepted as an international figure. His stream of publications, most notably his ongoing magazine Record, have enabled his original vision, born out of the backstreets of Tokyo, to be cast worldwide. In this anthology, renowned author, curator and editor Mark Holborn presents the four books that underpin Moriyama's artistic journey, with the photobook at the very core of his creative practice. The featured photobooks – Japan, A Photo Theater, A Hunter, Farewell Photography and Light and Shadow – span the fifteen years during which Moriyama honed his techniques and unveiled his distinctive vision and stand as exemplars of some of the most daring photographic publishing ventures in the history of the medium. Rooted in the complexities of Japan during a transformative era from 1968 to the early 1980s, they offer profound insights into the country’s evolving landscape. Harmonizing seamlessly with Moriyama's own aesthetic sensibilities, the book’s design includes excerpts from Moriyama's diaries, journals and memoranda, providing intimate glimpses into his creative process. As with all Moriyama publications, this photobook is eagerly anticipated by a devoted following, reflecting the enduring importance of his work.