In Japanese there is a saying hyōtan kara koma, ‘a horse appearing from a gourd’. It is used when something completely unexpected, even unbelievable, happens. It refers to the legend of Chokara sennin, an immortal being who owns a horse that when necessary, he can conjure up as if by magic from a gourd. This expression reminds us that in life the unexpected can happen. Nature is as nature befits, fickle and unpredictable. To Charlotte Dumas this is an important principle.
Her latest book centres on the basic elements of life, its vulnerability and resilience. Using five peculiar objects she brings myth, imagination and the transient nature of life together. These objects make the past tangible and are instinctively united with each other. They are accomanied by other historic works, photos and prints from a wide variety of collections, as well as her own photographic works made over the past four years in Japan.
The Horse in the Gourd Order here for a signed copy or regular copies via PhotoQ Bookshop here
design Tessa van der Waals
printed by Rob Stolk Amsterdam
soft bound first edition 112 pages, 22,5 x 17 cm
