Yoshikatsu Fuji - Red String

After presenting a work in progress yesterday and explaining my idea to include the concept of the red string to bring all the elements of my work together, my tutor pointed out that I have missed one very important connection. Yoshikatsu Fuji has also done a project titled Red String! (1) This project also makes reference to the legend of the red string, and it is bound together by red thread. The combination of types of photos that constitute the book’s content also resonate with my work.

This is an extract from the artist’s statement;

In Japan, legend has it that a man and woman who are predestined to meet have been tied at the little finger by an invisible red string since the time they were born. Unfortunately, the red string tying my parents together came undone, broke, or perhaps was never even tied to begin with. But if the two had never met, I would never have been born into this world. If anything, you might say that there is an unbreakable red string of fate between parent and child. 

日本には昔から「運命的な出会いをする男女は、生まれたときからお互いの小指が目に見えない『赤い糸』で結ばれている」という言い伝えがある。残念ながら両親を結ぶ赤い糸はほどけてしまったのか、切れてしまったのか、そもそも結ばれていなかったのかもしれない。しかし2人の出会いがなければ、私はこの世に生を受けることは無かったのだ。むしろ親子の間にこそ、切っても切れない運命の赤い糸が存在していると言えるのかもしれない。

The red string is also used to attach smaller images and notes to the book- this is how I had envisioned attaching the SMS messages to my own book.

I also found a flip through video (2) of this book. I like the way that it opens out from the centre, and one side pertains to the mother, and one to the father. It has a very scrapbook-esque feel to it, whilst still retaining a sense of polish. I particularly like the sewn-in notes, and the inclusion of drawings and letters. There are also a mixture of busier, or full bleed pages and pages with plenty of negative space. These add a flow to the book that prevents repetition and allows for tension and release. Below the video I have posted some screenshots of elements that I liked, or layouts that I want to take note of for future reference.

(1) Fuji, Y 2014, Red String, viewed 27 April 2020, <https://www.yoshikatsufujii.com/red-string>

(2) Tipi Bookshop, 2015, Red string de Yoshikatsu Fujii, video, viewed 28 April 2020, <https://vimeo.com/102344549>