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System (signed)

by Jens Liebchen

Photographs: Jens Liebchen

Publisher: Peperoni Books

40 pages

Pictures: 19 Color images

Year: 2014

ISBN: 978-3-941825-68-0

Comments: 20 x 27 cm, hardcover, clothbound

Jens Liebchen's book ›System‹ is a delight with a false bottom.

The pictures show a magical winter wonderland, a deserted, pristine snowy landscape with beautifully sprouted trees, that emerge, individually or in groups, filigree, snow-covered and delicate green on the branches from the soft white and gray surroundings. A natural spectacle of perfect beauty.

So it seems - but it is not that simple.

Jens Liebchen has taken the pictures in the outer part of the Imperial Palace Garden in central Tokyo. Here and there in the dense snowstorm we see cars bowl along in the background and isolated shadowy towering skyscraper silhouettes, that darken the sky. And for the trees, nature has supplied only the material. Placement, growth, size and shape are defined by people and planned down to the smallest detail. With his photographs Jens Liebchen, who lived in Tokyo for three years, reflects firm principles of the Japanese social system.

Nevertheless, the series is intriguing because of its great beauty, and the same goes for the book itself. Excellently designed by Helge Schlaghecke, printed in the finest quality and manufactured as clothbound hardcover with embossed title and tipped in image on the back the book is a bibliophilic gem.

›System‹ is published in an edition of 500 signed and numbered copies. A Special Edition with signed and numbered print is available on request.