Japanese Design

Japanese design has been a source of global appeal and fascination at least since the mid-19th century. In this unprecedented work, its underlying aesthetic and cultural roots that are essential for the success of Japanese design are explained engagingly and accessibly by Graham in reference to key concepts illustrated with a many examples of art and architecture. A must-read for designers, artists, connoisseurs and scholars of Japanese art and culture, and many others. -Andreas Marks, Head, Department of Japanese and Korean Art and Director of the Clark Center at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts This splendid book stimulates the mind and delights the eye in equal measure. It will engross the art historian as well as the art lover. Graham's elegantly concise exploration of some key aesthetic principles, social contexts, and modern interpreters of Japanese design recalls many of the works beautifully illustrated here. -Kendall H. Brown, Professor of Asian Art, School of Art, California State University, Long Beach This book, Japanese Design, is truly a treasure of information and adds another layer of appreciation to Japanese art - a must for anyone who has a passion for anything Japanese. -Asian Lifestyle Design blog Graham's book gives a thoughtful account of Japanese art and design, its cultural context in Japan and its proponents abroad. Her discussion of design terminology, including the origins as well as the uses and misuses through the decades of terms like wabi, sabi, and shibui is essential reading for anyone interested in Japanese art. -Janice Katz, Roger L.Weston Associate Curator of Japanese Art, Art Institute of Chicago This well- formatted and illustrated handbook with clear explanations of modern concepts of Japanese design, their cultural sources, along with biographies of Euro-American promoters of the Japan idea, will provide a welcome guide for students and travelers. -Christine Guth, Royal College of Art and Victoria and Albert Museum, London This book is a must-read for anyone who likes Japan and its arts! Even a long-term collector like me finds new delights in its illustrations and text. It is a winner! Don't miss the chance to acquire it as I know you will truly enjoy it. -Bill Clark, Japanese art collector and founder of the Clark Center for Japanese Art, Hanford, California Graham has crafted a compact, jewel-like resource for all who seek to understand the sources, evolution, impact, and value of Japanese aesthetics and design principles in our modern world. -Jan Schall, Ph.D., Sanders Sosland Curator, Modern Art, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art A treasury for art connoisseurs as well as students and scholars in search of inspiration, Japanese Design: Art, Aesthetics & Culture is highly recommended. -Midwest Book Review