shashasha

Kengo Kuma is one of Japan’s most prominent living architects. Having started his career on projects in rural regions with limited budget, Kuma developed a unique approach to space, craftsmanship and context. He has worked together with Greek photographer Erieta Attali to document his projects for more than twenty years.
Above all, “Mirror in the Mirror” highlights the collaborative aspect of Kuma’s and Attali’s relationship. Attali goes beyond mere documentation; her images capture the underlying ideas and concepts of Kuma’s buildings and involve the surrounding environment in their portrayal of Kuma’s work.

The buildings covered in “Mirror in the Mirror” include works created in the past twenty years, among them the Kenzo House in Paris, the Yusuhara Community Library in Kochi Prefecture, a sake brewery in Toyama Prefecture, the Casa Batilo in Barcelona, and the Nakabashi Bridge in Miyagi Prefecture. Quotes and architectural sketches further explore Kuma’s aesthetic and philosophical foundation, and an essay by Barry Bergdoll as well as an afterword by Mimmo Jodice delve further into Kuma’s and Attali’s work and relationship.