Review by Booklist Review
Slesin and associates' exploration of national styles in decoration and architecture-English Style (Booklist 81:678 Ja 15 85) and French Style (79:179 O 1 82)-now reaches Japan. With one foot rooted in tradition and the other firmly stepping into the twenty-first century, Japan is a country of contrasts and contradictions. This book vividly displays these oppositions as the authors travel from centuries-old country homes to contemporary apartments, showing how both extremes exemplify the Japanese attitude toward art and living. A stunning series of color photographs makes palpable the contrast of ancient carved wood against brutally textured concrete, but in either case the visual effect is superbly conveyed. On a more mundane level, the activities that take place in these rooms are suggested by both the descriptive text and by other photographs that capture the objects and routines of everyday life. An appendix of sources lists U.S. stores and addresses that specialize in Japanese designs. Index. JB. 728'.0952 Interior decoration-Japan-History-20th century / Interior decoration-Japan-Foreign influences [CIP] 87-2269
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
