SUGIMOTO, Hiroshi. Sea of Buddha. (New York): Sonnabend Sundell Editions), (1997). -SIGNED

SUGIMOTO, Hiroshi.
Sea of Buddha.
(New York): Sonnabend Sundell Editions), (1997).

4to (240 × 155 mm). 48 black-and-white photographs. Edited by Atsuko Koyanagi. Art direction by Takaaki Matsumoto. Leporello fold, first and last pages attached to polished aluminium covers, titles to front; a couple of light scratches to rear cover as often. Grey silk-covered board slipcase, titles to spine and front in black. Signed by Sugimoto in silver pen. Fine.

First edition. ‘Sugimoto’s work is often about comparison and similarity, and this is particularly true of Sea of Buddha, his series of 1000 bodhisattva statues in Kyoto’s Sanju-sangen-do Temple (The Hall of the Thirty-three Bays). He photographed each group of statues in the same way, focusing on one, surrounded by its near-identical neighbours, and combining the series in a single scroll-like image, folded accordion style. The result is Sugimoto’s most challenging book, a combination of modernity and tradition’ (Badger).

Parr, M. and Badger, G., The Photobook: A History vol. I p.309.