Yasumasa Morimura

On Self-Portrait: Through the Looking-Glass

Yasumasa Morimura
On Self-Portrait: Through the Looking-Glass
 | On Self-Portrait - 2007 - 25 x 20 cm

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 On Self-Portrait: Through the Looking-Glass

Introduction by Yasumasa Morimura

One of my favorite fantasy novels of all times is The Chronicles
of Narnia, written by C. S. Lewis.
The story is about a group of young British boys and girls
who in reality carry on ordinary lives, but they all share a big
secret. The secret is that there exists another world called
Narnia in which the children are leading a completely diffe-
rent life as princes and princesses, and even the dimmest of
the children in real life can go to Narnia to accomplish heroic
tasks like saving and ruling the Kingdom of Narnia. Granted
I myself am not a resident of Narnia, but I too have my own
secret realm similar to Narnia. It is the Kingdom of Art.
Just like how the children of The Chronicles of Narnia
became princes and princesses, not only can I imagine myself
becoming a different person but I actually can turn myself into any
existence, whether it be someone from a famous painting, a
movie actress, a singer, an animal, or a monster. And I am
about to devote at least half of my life to this secret realm of the
Kingdom of Art.
Self-portrait, to me, is a living experimentation in which I at-
tempt to shift myself into the Kingdom of Art, a secret realm
separated and different from the reality. There is a possibility
that if the experiment fails I might never make it back to the
real world, and this I say from my own experience in the past.
It is indeed an experiment full of risks, however, the most
dangerous challenges are the most seductive. It is certain that,
for the rest of my days, I will never find escape from my own
expressions of a self-portrait.

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art history through
the looking-glass

| Prologue (Just Before Sleep) - 1997 - Instant Black and White Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Portrait (Futago) - 1990 - 266 x 366 cm

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 | Absence of a Servant - 1988 - Instant Colour Film 10 x 13 cm

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 | Daughter of Art History (Princess B) - 1990 - 210 x 160 cm | Blue Dress at Three in the Afternoon - 1989 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Day of Eating a Pomegranate - 1991 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Portrait (Pomegranate) - 1991 - 200 x 100 cm

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 | Portait (Fan) - 1991 - 140 x 120 cm
| Opening a Souvenir Fan - 1991 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Six Brides - 1991 - 140 x 120 cm

| Six Brides (Wearing a Headdress) - 1991 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Six Brides (Holding a Goblet) - 1991 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Six Brides (Holding a Cherry Blossom) - 1991 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Blinded by the Light - 1991 - 200 x 363 cm

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 | Swamped by Bills - 1991 - Instant Colour Film 10 x 13 cm | Wherabouts of a Child - 1991 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Wherabouts of a Soldier - 1991 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Young Self-Portrait 1 - 1994 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Young Self-Portrait 2 - 1994 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Young Self-Portrait 3 - 1994 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Unfinished Self-Portrait - 1994 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Mother - 1994 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Lover - 1994 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Wife - 1994 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Later Years - 1994 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 |Mona Lisa in its Origin | Mona Lisa Through the Looking-Glass 1 - 1998 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 |Mona Lisa Through the Looking-Glass 2 | Mona Lisa Through the Looking-Glass 3 - 1998 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Mona Lisa Through the Looking-Glass 4 - 1998 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 |This is What Judith Said | Mother (Judith I) - 1991 - 240 x 160 cm

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actress through
the looking-glass

|Portrait of Marilyn

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 | Portrait of Marilyn - 1995 - Instant Black and White Film 13 x 10 cm
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 |White Marilyn | Black Marilyn - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 |Audrey Hepburn 2 | Audrey Hepburn 1 (Tiffanys) - 1995 - Instant Black and White Film 13 x 10 cm

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 |Ingrid Bergman 1 | Ingrid Bergman 2 (Casablanca) - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 |Sophia Loren | Liza Minelli (Cabaret) - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 |Elizabeth Taylor 1 | Elizabeth Taylor 2 (Cleopatra) - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 10 x 13 cm

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 | Elizabeth Taylor 3 - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Elizabeth Taylor 4 - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 10 x 13 cm

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 | Silvia Kristel 1 (Emmanuelle) - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Silvia Kristel 2 (Emmanuelle) - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Silvia Kristel 3 (Emmanuelle) - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Silvia Kristel 4 (Emmanuelle) - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 |Silvia Kristel 5 ( | Silvia Kristel 6 (Emmanuelle) - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

68 69
 | Faye Dunaway 1 (Bonnie and Clyde) - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Faye Dunaway 2 (Bonnie and Clyde) - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Faye Dunaway 3 (Bonny and Clyde) - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 8,6 x 10,6 cm | Faye Dunaway 4 (Bonny and Clyde) - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Jane Fonda 2 (Barbarella) - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 10 x 13 cm

| Jane Fonda 1 (Barbarella) - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 10 x 13 cm

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 | Jane Fonda 3 (Barbarella) - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Jane Fonda 4 (Barbarella) - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Jane Fonda 5 (Barbarella) - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Greta Garbo 1 - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Greta Garbo 2 - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Greta Garbo 3 - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Greta Garbo 4 - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Greta Garbo 5 - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 8,6 x 10,6 cm

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 | Catherine Deneuve 1 (Belle de Jour) - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Catherine Deneuve 2 (Belle de Jour) - 1995 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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M
through the looking-glass

| Vivien Leigh (Gone With The Wind) - 1995 - Instant Black and White Film 13 x 10 cm

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 > | M in Black Suits 1 - 4 - 1997 - Instant Black and White Film 13 x 10 cm

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 < | M in a Ribbon-Printed Dress 1 - 4 - 1996 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 > | M and a Mannequin in the Looking-Glass 1 - 4 - 1997 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 > | Ms Basement 1 - 8 - 1997 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | M and Sunflower - 1997 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | M Holding a Cigarette - 1997 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

| M in a White Dress - 1997 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | M in a China Dress - 1997 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | M Wearing a Military Cap 1 - 1997 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | M Showing Legs - 1997 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

| M Looking Up - 1997 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | M Wearing a Military Cap 2 - 1997 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 > | Ms Garden 1 - 4 - 1997 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Ms Hideout 1 - 1997 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Ms Hideout 2 - 1997 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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Fashion show
through the looking-glass

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 | Singer 1 - 1994 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Singer 2 - 1994 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Singer 3 - 1994 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Singer 4 - 1994 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Singer 5 - 1994 - Instant Colour Film 8,6 x 10,6 cm | Singer 6 - 1994 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Bloating Shape - 1996 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Swaying Shape - 1996 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Stretching Shape - 1996 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Square Shape - 1996 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Sheep-like Shape - 1996 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Rotating Shape - 1996 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Shape of the Night 1 - 1996 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Shape of the Night 2 - 1994 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Shape of the Night 3 - 1994 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | Dressing Room at Night 1 - 1996 - Instant Colour Film 10 x 13 cm | Dressing Room at Night 2 - 1996 - Instant Colour Film 10 x 13 cm

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 | Madame M 1 - 1991 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Madame M 2 - 1991 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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tragedy and comedy
through the looking-glass

| For Frida 1 - 2001 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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128 | For Frida 2 - 2001 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | An Inner Dialogue With Frida Kahlo (Will to Live) - 2001 - 195 x 175 cm
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 | For Frida 3 - 2001 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | For Frida 4 - 2001 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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 | An Inner Dialogue With Frida Kahlo (Dialoque With Myself 2) - 2001 - 150 x 185 cm

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 | For Frida 5 - 2001 - Instant Colour Film 10 x 13 cm | For Frida 6 - 2001 - Instant Colour Film 10 x 13 cm

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| The Power to Dream (Appear in the Landscape, Disappear in the Landscape) - 2004 - 280 x 180 cm | Marie-Antoinette (Through the Looking-Glass) - 2004 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm 137
138 | Revolution Through the Looking-Glass - 2004 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm 139
| The Power to Dream (Appear in History, Disappear in History) - 2004 - 280 x 180 cm
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| Dedicated to La Duquesa de Alba / Black Alba - 2005 - 90 x 60 cm | Alba Through the Looking-Glass (Black Dress) - 2005 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm 141
142 | Alba Through the Looking-Glass (White Dress) - 2005 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm 143
| Dedicated to La Duquesa de Alba / White Alba - 2005 - 90 x 60 cm
 | Comedian (Hanging) - 2005 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

| Comedian (A Heart) - 2005 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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| Fated to Wait for Someones Death - 2005 - 80 x 60 cm 145
 | Comedian (Dance 1) - 2005 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Comedian (Dance 2) - 2005 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

| Comedian (Dance 3) - 2005 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Comedian (Dance 4) - 2005 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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| The Drama is Still Going on - 2005 - 80 x 60 cm
 | Comedian (Young Woman 1) - 2005 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Comedian (A Hag) - 2005 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

| Comedian (Young Woman 2) - 2005 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Comedian (Young Woman 3) - 2005 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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| Three Women, Three Minds - 2005 - 80 x 60 cm 149
 | Comedian (Flying Alba) - 2005 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Comedian (A Sweep) - 2005 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

| Comedian (Text-messaging) - 2005 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm | Comedian (Covered With a Petticoat) - 2005 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

150 | I am Flying (It is Your Fault if You are Used as a Stepping Stone) - 2005 - 160 x 120 cm
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 | Exchange of Devouring - 2005 - Instant Colour Film 13 x 10 cm

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| The Great Comedian (Man Barking) - 2005 - 180 x 120 cm 153
 | A Painters Atelier (Man Painting) - 2005 - Instant Colour Film 10 x 13 cm | A Painters Atelier (Woman Posing) - 2005 - Instant Colour Film 10 x 13 cm

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 | A Painters Atelier (Silence) - 2005 - Instant Colour Film 10 x 13 cm

156 | Vermeer Study (A Great Story out of the Corner of a Small Room) - 2004 - 145,5 x 125,5 cm
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 | Daydream - 1997 - Instant Black and White Film 13 x 10 cm

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 COLOFON
Edition: 1500
Text: Yasumasa Morimura
Design & layout: Alex Daniels
Reflex edition: Edition of 1500, 60 of which have one additional
colour photograph and one bronze sculpture both
signed and numbered by the artist.
Print: Meco Offset BV, Zwaag

Special thanks to Yasumasa Morimura, Yoshiko Isshiki, Natsuko Odate,

Ria & Lex Daniels and Famous Amsterdam.

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Laser Proof