NEW YORK, NY.- B, drawings of abstract forms consists of dynamic and perplexing collages in which photos are digitally spliced and reconfigured, then colored and overlaid with grids, shapes and text fragments.




Mori’s underlying photos mainly depict Japanese industrial scenes and cityscapes, interspersed with close-ups of everyday objects such as light bulbs and shoes, while the text fragments include writings on the Beat Generation. Mori’s “drawings” furthermore evoke the paintings of leading Beat figure William S. Burroughs, while Mori himself refers to his book as “On the Road in a Hazy Mood”, a prismatic visual homage to Jack Kerouac’s most famous work.

Based on an open-call format, the Steidl Book Awards encourage photographers to visualize and edit their work into book form. The winners are personally selected by me and invited to make their books at Düstere Straße 4 in Göttingen. Slowly, this modest intention has involved into a vision of how Steidl book culture and technical know-how might be shared with artists and communities across the globe. Culture lives from diversity, from an open and inclusive exchange of knowledge, opinions and traditions. The Steidl Book Awards aim to stimulate and promote the culture of the photobook beyond international boundaries. We believe that the idea of global citizenship without borders is just as relevant to books as it is to the people who make and enjoy them. --Gerhard Steidl

Born in Tokyo, Toshiaki Mori studied design at Kuwasawa Design School in Tokyo. After working in the scenographic art department of the Haiyuza Theater, Mori worked as an illustrator before taking up photography. His solo exhibitions include “Smell on day no. 16” (2012) at the Tohoku Institute of Technology Gallery in Miyagi, and “2B, drawings of abstract forms” (2016) at William Morris Gallery in Tokyo. Mori is a member of Japan’s Society of Publishing Arts.