Cuny Janssen: Amami

Amami, a photo book about the second largest of the Ryukyu Islands

This year (2010), Cuny Janssen is presenting two very special, technically sophisticated books: "Amami" and "Turtle". After the Dutch photographer was included in Martin Parr's voluminous "The Photobook History: Volume II" with her first book, they could quickly become coveted collector's items due to their limited edition (1,000 copies).
Cuny Janssen is always looking for unusual forms of presentation in order to place her books in a specific relationship to the respective landscape and the portraits of her people, who are often children. This is also the case with Amami, a photo book about the second largest of the Riukiu Islands of the same name, which is located off the coast of one of Japan's four main islands, Kiuschu. Located in the East China Sea and home to 7,000 inhabitants on an area of around 70 square kilometres, the island is characterised by wild, rugged-looking coastal vegetation, although the subtropical climate with an annual average of 21 degrees allows two harvests a year. The portraits of schoolchildren gathered on large centrefolds convey the impression of a deep-rooted seriousness that perhaps results from the constant threat posed by a nature that can never be tamed.

Exhibition:
De Pont, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tilburg, 20/03/2010 - 23/05/2010