Mirei Shigemori - Rebel in the Garden : Modern Japanese Landscape Architecture

Japanese garden art Mirei Shigemori had a major impact on the development of Japanese landscape architecture in the twentieth century. Active from the 1920s, he founded the Kyoto Garden Society in 1932. In 1939 he designed his own first masterpiece, the garden at the main hall of the Tôfuku-ji temple. From then on he designed 240 gardens all over Japan until his death in 1975; amongst the most famous are the Tenrai-an tea garden (1969) and the Matsuo Taisha garden (1975). The main characteristic of his gardens is that they respect tradition and, at the same time, depart from conventional paradigms by opening up to the influence of Western modernism with its own language. The first part of the book covers Shigemori’s life and factors that influenced his work. The second part contains a detailed illustration of 17 gardens. The book is published as a new and revised edition. * High-quality images and illustrations by Christian Lichtenberg * With contributions by Christophe Girot, Kendall Brown, and Günter Nitschke * New, revised edition Mirei Shigemori prägte maßgeblich die Entwicklung der japanischen Landschaftsarchitektur im 20. Jahrhundert. Seit den 1920er Jahren tätig, gründete er 1932 die Kyotoer Gartengesellschaft und publizierte 1938 das 26-bändige Werk Illustrated Book on the History of the Japanese Garden. Ein Jahr später entwarf er sein erstes eigenes Meisterwerk, den Garten bei der Haupthalle des Tôfuku-ji Tempels. Von da an gestaltete er 240 Gärten in ganz Japan bis zu seinem Tod 1975; zu den berühmtesten gehören der Teegarten Tenrai-an (1969) und der Matsuo Taisha-Garten (1975). Kennzeichen seiner Gärten ist, dass sie die Tradition achten und sich zugleich - in der Öffnung gegenüber den Einflüssen der westlichen Moderne - von dem Althergebrachten durch eine eigene Sprache lösen. Der erste Teil des Buches setzt sich mit dem Leben Shigemoris und den Einflüssen auf sein Werk auseinander. Dabei spielt auch seine Auseinandersetzung mit Ikebana und Teezeremonien eine Rolle. Der zweite Teil stellt 17 Gärten ausführlich dar. Das Buch erscheint in einer überarbeiteten Neuausgabe Mirei Shigemori Decisively Shaped The Development Of Japanese Landscape Architecture In The Twentieth Century. He Founded The Kyoto Garden Society In 1932 And Published The 26-volume Illustrated Book On The History Of The Japanese Garden In 1938. One Year Later He Designed His Own First Masterwork, The Garden Of The Main Hall Of Tôfuku-ji Temple. Between Then And His Death In 1975, He Went On To Design 240 Gardens Throughout Japan. Among The Most Famous Are The Tenrai-an Tea Garden (1969) And The Matsuo Taisha Garden (1975). All Of His Gardens Are Distinguished By The Fact That They Honor Tradition While At The Same Time - Through Their Openness To Western Modernity - They Free Themselves From Its Weight And Develop A Language Of Their Own. The First Part Of The Book Will Deal With Shigemori's Life And Influences, Including His Interest In Ikebana And Tea Ceremonies. The Second Part Will Offer Detailed Presentations Of 17 Different Gardens. Mirei Shigemori had a major impact on the development of Japanese landscape architecture in the twentieth century. Active from the 1920s, he founded the Kyoto Garden Society in 1932. In 1939 he designed his own first masterpiece, the garden at the main hall of the Tofuku-ji temple. From then on he designed 240 gardens all over Japan until his death in 1975; amongst the most famous are the Tenrai-an tea garden (1969) and the Matsuo Taisha garden (1975). The main characteristic of his gardens is that they respect tradition and, at the same time, depart from conventional paradigms by opening up to the influence of Western modernism with its own language. The first part of the book covers Shigemori's life and factors that influenced his work. The second part contains a detailed illustration of 17 gardens. The book is published as a new and revised edition