Robert Mapplethorpe 'Provocative Forms of Beauty' (Japan, 1987)

A beautiful Japanese edition of Robert Mapplethorpe's photography, published by PARCO in Tokyo in 1987. Featuring 72 photographs in black and white and colour, the book brings together his iconic male nudes, delicate flower studies and portraits of creative figures including Patti Smith, Lisa Lyon, Ken Moody and Philip Glass. Known for turning provocative subjects into striking, almost sculptural compositions, Mapplethorpe explores the relationship between beauty, sexuality and the human form. With text in Japanese and English, this is a wonderful piece of 1980s photography publishing.

First 5 pages are loose on the spine.