Tokyo Tattoo 1970 by Martha Cooper

Tokyo Tattoo 1970 by Martha Cooper

Tokyo Tattoo 1970 by renowned photographer Martha Cooper is a book about the traditional art of tattooing and a rare portrait of a master artist. It provides a unique glimpse into the world of traditional Japanese tattooing in Tokyo in 1970, and it's a collection of photographs capturing the Japanese art of Irezumi (often associated with the Yakuza, but also widely recognised for its cultural significance and artistry). Martha Cooper came to Tokyo in 1969. She soon became interested in the local art of tattooing and began documenting the work of traditional Japanese tattooist Horibun I who worked with traditional Japanese methods, tattoos made by hand, with different sized bundles of needles bound to sticks which he dipped into coloured inks. His motifs were derived from traditional Japanese legends. Tokyo Tattoo 1970 tells the story of a Japanese tattoo master and his work. It shows him at work, with his customers, their tattoos, and it follows Horibun I on a pilgrimage to a holy Shinto shrine. Martha Cooper's sharp pictures show the process of the tattooist's work as well as finished motifs and results in a unique and astounding story of the traditional Japanese tattooing technique. The 2011 hardcover edition of Tokyo Tattoo 1970 was released in 2011, has been sold out for years and is considered a collectors item. Finally, the paperback edition is here, making this unique collection available for a new generation of tattoo fans.

Martha Cooper is a documentary photographer who has spent more than three decades documenting urban vernacular art and architecture. She is one of the most important portrayers of street life and urban culture today, with over twenty publications and innumerable exhibitions across the world. Subway Art, Tag Town, Hip Hop Files, New York State of Mind, and Going Postal are among her past works. She is a Manhattan resident.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9789189944046
ISBN 10	9189944046
Title	Tokyo Tattoo 1970
Author	Martha Cooper
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Dokument Forlag
Year published	2025-03-20
Number of pages	72
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.