In celebration of White Ship’s 20th Anniversary, we believed it would fitting to publish Kunihiko Yazawa’s monograph as a sincere expression of our gratitude to the many people who have supported us on our journey, and as an expression of hope for the future. We hope that you enjoy exploring Yazawa’s artistic vision through this comprehensive survey of his work over 27 years from 1993 to 2021, spanning 2,352 works, and sense the new possibilities of art in the 21st century.
Two and a half years from the project’s conception, with the generous support of countless people we are able to finally share this monograph with the world. In 2023 - a year of change and transition - it fills us with deep emotion to finally have this opportunity to share Yazawa’s rich and multifaceted artistic vision, his wide-ranging body of work and philosophy from Japan to the world.
White Ship started out as Yazawa’s art project, inspired by the tag line “Art at the centre of the Earth.” Originally conceived as a social experiment centred on the idea that instead of turning art into business, if business, education and life itself became art, perhaps the world would be a much more peaceful and spiritually rich place. We believed that if we could explore the possibilities of art and in so doing explore human potential and create meaningful social impact, that our work would eventually become a sustainable business. Over these past 20 years this idea has become reality.
Over the next 10 years, as a forward looking organisation ready to pass on the baton to the next generation, we hope to empower people around the world to create their own lives and contribute towards the realisation of a sustainable and flourishing society by harnessing the power of art to update how we learn, work and live.
Kimi Hasebe
CEO, White Ship, Inc.
KUNIHIKO YAZAWA Complete Works 1993-2021
Limited edition of 250 copies / Numbered edition / Signed by Kunihiko Yazawa
Size: 296mm×260mm／Box set of 2 volumes, Vol 1. 410 pages, Vol 2. 414 pages／Language: English, Japanese
Contents I
Foreword - Kimi Hasebe
Journey to the beginning - Kunihiko Yazawa
Element 1
Element 2
Element 3
List of works
Contents II
Element 4
Element 5
Element 6
Element 7
Chronology
List of works
Element 1
Element 2
Element 3
Element 4
Element 5
Element 6
Element 7
Vision Art・EGAKU
Vision Art
EGAKU
The Making Of KUNIHIKO YAZAWA Complete Works 1993-2021
Kunihiko Yazawa Complete Works 1993-2021 Launch Party - Opening Reception, Kunihiko Yazawa "花の標本 - my herbarium” Exhibition - October 14, 2022
The Making Of KUNIHIKO YAZAWA Complete Works 1993-2021
Photo Album (2020-2022)
The Making Of KUNIHIKO YAZAWA Complete Works 1993-2021
A prayer for the project’s success - July 2022
This was our first ever visit to Kashihara Shrine. The shrine is located in the preserved forest sanctuary at the base of Mount Unebi, one of the three Yamato mountains and the shrine precincts resemble Meiji Jingu – but on a larger scale. The sprawling shrine grounds were calm and peaceful, and there was an air of sanctity surrounding the inner shrine. Standing there you had the feeling that all prayers would be heard.
It was a happy coincidence to discover that Okamura Printing Industries was located near a place of such beauty and historical significance. I felt this place had a benevolent energy, an energy that would perhaps carry Kuni-san’s art from Japan to the world.
The Making Of KUNIHIKO YAZAWA Complete Works 1993-2021
Visit to the printing factory - July 2022
We would not have been able to realize this project without the contribution and support of printing professionals. At the beginning we weren’t sure who to turn to, but another project we were working on led us to Okamura Printing Industries. Okamura Printing Industries has a history of 100 years and has been trusted by artists and clients for their deep expertise, working with contemporary artists such as Yayoi Kusama as well as being involved in cultural projects such as the joint research project of the Takematsuzaka Burial Mounds with the Japanese government’s Agency of Cultural Affairs. Above all, the presence of our printing director, Shimizu-san of Okamura Printing Industries, has been invaluable. He has accompanied us on this journey over the past 18 months and has been instrumental in giving us the confidence to bring this project – the publication of our first monograph – into fruition. This summer, having submitted the final manuscript, the project entered the final phase of printing and binding, Kuni-san and I visited the printing factory in Kurumaki, not far from Asuka Village in Nara Prefecture.
Our factory visit kicked off with a warm welcome by the Okamura Printing Industries team, including the CEO and senior management team, the production manager, head of quality assurance, and the Tokyo office manager. We immediately felt at ease. Onishi-san, the deputy quality assurance manager explained how their work is supported by the skills and deep expertise of their craftsmen, we came away impressed by the care and precision with which these printing professionals undertake each stage of the printing process. This is a short video of the visit filmed on my iPhone, we hope you enjoy these behind the scenes making of the monograph as well as Kuni-san’s playful appearance in the distinctive “jellyfish-esque” headgear!
Monograph Project
Limited Edition Art Posters
We will be offering a selection of limited edition art posters to mark the publication
of Yazawa's first monograph, "KUNIHIKO YAZAWA Complete Works 1993-2021."
We have selected 12 works from Yazawa's vast body of 2,352 artworks.
Some of the works have never been exhibited before -
we hope you will enjoy encountering these new works.
Each of the posters will be offered in a limited edition of 20 prints. However, feel free to
select a set of two posters or even one of each of all 12 posters to hang in your office.
All posters come framed in a natural wood finish frame.
Limited edition of 20 posters
28,000 yen（inclusive of consumption tax)
（Poster size: A2 / Frame: 612 x 438 mm）
Click on the poster images to view a larger image.
