[New iPhone App! - PHOTOS] ITALY 1985-1990 & FLANDRE 1996-1997

[New iPhone App! - PHOTOS] ITALY 1985-1990 & FLANDRE 1996-1997

Top Japanese photographer’s take on Italy and Belgium

TOKYO — January 5th, 2010 — Up-frontier, Inc. today announced ITALY 1985-1990 and FLANDRE 1996-1997, two photo books for the iPhone and iPod touch available immediately from the Apple App Store.

Naomi Kawakami is one of Japan’s top commercial photo portrait artists, the photographer of such cultural icons as Quentin Tarantino, John Lurie, Jim Jarmusch, Bryan Ferry, Charlie Watts, Philip Glass, David Bowie, Van Dyke Parks, Serge Gainsbourg, Michael Nyman, Julee Cruise, Sylvie Vartan and Vladimir Ashkenazy. The list goes on: artists, ballet dancers, actors, manga artists, even former Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi. Kawakami has produced portraits of them all — more than 300 celebrities altogether.

Both photo books present images that in most cases are being made available for the first time. While the 56 photos in ITALY 1985-1990 are great simply to look at and enjoy, the images also pose interesting questions for every viewer. What does a gifted Japanese photographer see in the faces of the people he meets in Italy? How is the presence of a Japanese photographer reflected in their expressions? Why does he choose these moments, these people? What do the photos tell us about the Japanese way of seeing Italy, and what Western traditions of photography are evident in the artist’s approach?

FLANDRE 1996-1997 presents 29 photos. Once again starting from the knowledge that the photos are by one of Japan’s top photographers, the viewer is encouraged in each case to consider why this particular photographer is inviting you to look at this particular image. In these photographs of the region of Belgium known in English as Flanders, what you see is definitely not what you get. The challenge is to reflect on photographic and cultural traditions, and what you know of Kawakami’s own career.

Kawakami uses a medium format twin lens reflex Rolleiflex, and takes square shots in black and white.

Original prints made under the artist’s supervision are available for all the photos in these special iPhone/ iPod touch collections.

See more on YouTube!

ITALY 1985-1990

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUV5PBtGZNg

FLANDRE 1996-1997

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSVXfX2k_OI

“ITALY 1985-1990″is available as a download from Apple’s App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch at:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=346695695&mt=8

“FLANDRE 1996-1997″is available as a download from Apple’s App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch at:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=346700405&mt=8

About Up-frontier

Up-frontier, Inc. provides widget-based marketing solutions. We have an extensive track record of developing and deploying advanced applications using desktop widgets, web widgets, mobile widgets, and more. Currently, we promote the utilization of widgets via the “widgetown” information portal site and provide log analysis APIs for widget developers. Up-frontier also develops services utilizing widget platforms, such as TODAY’S AD, which provides multi-platform widgets, including mobile widgets, and distributes widget-targeted advertisements.

Press Contact:
Miki Sato
press.upfrontier@gmail.com
http://www.up-frontier.jp/

Art and Entertainment, Consumer | January 5th, 2010