Book launch: Re-edition of the Shiro Kuramata monograph

Where: Galerie Gastou, 12 rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris

When: November 26th, from 7 to 9pm

Many around the world had relationships with Shiro Kuramata, and more still were inspired by his work. Yet the sharing of his name, his work, his universe, and these bonds that transcend nations and generations has remained rare.

Noting that existing copies of the first edition were now being sold for more than 2,000€, Akane Komuro realised that it had become inaccessible for young people seeking inspiration and a deeper understanding of Kuramata’s work and universe. Seeing as the Phaidon edition was the only one in English available for republishing, she approached the publisher about the importance of issuing a new edition and secured support from institutions and key buyers worldwide. 

For the Paris launch, she united the Librairie Galignani and Galerie Gastou to present the book alongside Kuramata's iconic Cabinet de Curiosités. The participation of the author, Deyan Sudjic, was also confirmed, as well as a contribution by Philippe Starck in the form of a video recorded for the occasion.

The event will bring together exceptional leading voices from the UK, France, and Japan — individuals with direct ties to Kuramata and a deep understanding of his work, offering insights that have seldom been shared publicly in recent decades.

Over recent years, Komuro has been exploring ways to deliver Kuramata’s universe and his message to a wider audience, and believes that reuniting these voices will carry an authentic cultural and societal resonance in today’s world.

Beyond deepening understanding of Kuramata's œuvre through the book, as well as a direct interaction with an original Kuramata work, the aim of this publication is to create communication between the object and human beings: to encourage a more immediate, meaningful dialogue among those sensitive to Kuramata's universe, and to provide an opportunity for people to reconnect with their dreams—free from gravity (Apesanteur) and offering a sense of emotional ease (Yutori, 間).

Apesanteur: fewer barriers, less hierarchy — the embodiment of peace, kindness, and freedom.

Yutori (ma – 間, a sense of space and reflection): to our society, fostering awareness of our senses, our humanity, our environment, and the passage of time, and calming the soul.