Atlas: Tadao Ando

Philippe Seclier embarked on a nine-year project to photograph 130 of Tadao Ando's buildings worldwide, exploring the architect's physical and spiritual world. The book presents Ando's work in a fragmented, mosaic-like format, showcasing his genius for siting and composition through black and white images. It encompasses a diverse range of structures, from religious institutions to art museums and commercial spaces, and illustrates Ando's use of light and shadow to evoke spiritual depth and timelessness.

Format: Hardback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 07 September 2021
Publisher: Prestel

This captivating and deeply personal journey into the world of Tadao Ando, one of Japan's most renowned architects, explores both the physical and spiritual realms. In 2012, Philippe Seclier embarked on a remarkable expedition to visit Tadao Ando's iconic Church of the Light, and his encounter with this architectural masterpiece ignited a passion that led him on a global quest to explore the architect's remarkable buildings. Over a span of nine years, Seclier dedicated himself to capturing the essence of Ando's work through a series of stunning photographs, documenting 130 buildings across the globe.

As Seclier walked through each structure, carefully seeking the perfect framing, he began to unravel Ando's genius for siting and composition. The resulting photographs, presented in a loose chronology, are arranged like a mosaic on the page, offering fragmented views that correspond to Ando's own philosophy of the logic of structure and geometry. This atlas encompasses not only the geographic diversity of Ando's oeuvre but also its thematic range, encompassing transit stations in Tokyo and Kobe, art museums in Fort Worth, Texas, and Provence, France, artists' retreats on the Mexican coast, the now-demolished Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester, England, theaters in Milan, Italy, and upscale restaurants in New York City.

Seclier's photographs of Ando's religious structures are particularly striking, as they beautifully illustrate his masterful use of light and shadow to evoke a sense of spiritual depth and timelessness. His concise yet insightful short texts provide valuable insights into each building, offering a deeper understanding of Ando's architectural vision. An appendix at the end of the book highlights the geographic diversity and range of Ando's oeuvre, further emphasizing his global impact.

This captivating and immersive exploration of Tadao Ando's work is a testament to the power of architecture to transcend boundaries and inspire the human spirit. Through Seclier's lens and thoughtful commentary, readers are invited to embark on a journey of discovery, exploring the beauty and complexity of Ando's architectural creations and appreciating the profound impact they have on our world.

Weight: 1542g
Dimension: 216 x 288 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783791387970