
Kikuo
- Publisher
- Libraryman
- Year
- 2021
- ISBN
- 978-91-88113-43-6
- Specifications
- Black/white offset printed softcover
20 × 27.4 cm
28 pages
15 black/white plates, separated from 8 pictures
2 fold-outs
Saddle-stitched
Color offset printed dustcover
The book contains a foreword written by critic and essayist Duncan Wooldridge
First edition of 500 copies, with fold-out poster
Special edition of 30 copies, numbered, in folded paperboard cover, with signed original print
The notable series Reclining Woo—Man (1997–2001) by Ryudai Takano exhibits an unalike depiction of nudity, which often being ignored in the arts. The title derives from “Reclining Woman”—a title often found among European classical paintings. The title is a parody, but the photographs are not. Takano was exploring how to capture his own sense of beauty prior to meeting Kikuo. It was such an overwhelming encounter that caused Takano to abandon his quest. Kikuo; a stout, naked, middle-aged man, lying on a sofa bed. To give an example, it might have felt for him as if Mars, the Roman god of war appeared as a muse.