[My Collection] Kohei Nawa "METAMORPHOSIS" Special Edition — An Unboxing Report!

Kohei Nawa “METAMORPHOSIS” Special Edition

Kohei Nawa’s monograph “METAMORPHOSIS,” released in February 2019.
Sold exclusively at Tsutaya Books in a limited run of 1,500 copies.

From Kohei Nawa's monograph "METAMORPHOSIS" — a page from "Biomatrix" — From Kohei Nawa’s monograph “METAMORPHOSIS” — a page from “Biomatrix”

At an event held to coincide with the launch of “METAMORPHOSIS,” ten different multiple works were released in a limited “Special Edition” format.

This time, a new blue color was added, and a further 20 varieties in total were released in the same limited format. As a result, the Special Edition now comprises a total of 30 varieties.

Note that no exhibition preview was staged for this sales run.
The previous exhibition can be viewed at the link below.

Speaking of Special Edition tie-ins to monographs released by Tsutaya Books, the case of Yukimasa Ida is still fresh in memory.

The Multiples

The multiples this time belong to Nawa’s “Velvet” series — a body of sculpture in which villous, moss- or mycelium-like fibers are affixed to the surface of an object. The multiples come in two colorways, Red (R) and Navy (NB), across 20 varieties, each in an edition of 10.

All 20 multiple works released in this run

Unboxing Report

I was fortunate enough to be selected in the lottery this time, so here is an unboxing review.
The winning work was “Velvet-Trans-T.O.P(NB).”

Arrived via Sagawa Express. Shipping was 3,300 yen, but the packaging was thorough, which put my mind at ease.

The box is finished in two tones: black on the top and silver on the bottom.

Open the box, and the monograph reveals itself.

Once you take out the monograph, a B5-size booklet is tucked underneath.

The booklet contains an overview of all 20 multiples released this run, plus one sheet dedicated to the specific collector's… — The booklet contains an overview of all 20 multiples released this run, plus one sheet dedicated to the specific collector’s piece.

Opening the box next, the multiple work itself appears, carefully protected in a yellow cloth pouch.

The multiple work housed inside an acrylic case.

You can see that the multiple is bolted in place. Only the base panel is milky-white acrylic.

The title, edition number, and artist's signature are laser-engraved on the case. — The title, edition number, and artist’s signature are laser-engraved on the case.

Kohei Nawa, "Velvet-Trans-T.O.P(NB)," "METAMORPHOSIS" COLLECTOR'S EDITION — Kohei Nawa, “Velvet-Trans-T.O.P(NB),” “METAMORPHOSIS” COLLECTOR’S EDITION

Compact in scale yet with an unmistakable presence.

Overview

Kohei Nawa
“METAMORPHOSIS” Special Edition “COLLECTOR’S EDITION”

Contents: one copy of “METAMORPHOSIS”; one multiple work by Kohei Nawa (housed in an acrylic case); one B5 booklet. *The reverse of the acrylic case in which the multiple is mounted is laser-engraved with “1. work title 2. edition number 3. artist’s signature.”
Price: (R) 350,000 yen, (NB) 390,000 yen (both excluding tax). *Shipping 3,300 yen.
Materials: Mixed media
Varieties: 20 in total
Edition: 10 *Sold as one edition each via Oil by Bijutsu Techo
Sales method: Lottery-based sale via Oil by Bijutsu Techo (application window: August 26, 2020, 10:00 – September 1, 2020, 23:59)

*Monograph “METAMORPHOSIS” Overview

Format: hardcover, German-style binding
Dimensions: 262 mm (w) × 332 mm (h) × 40 mm (thickness) / approx. 2.5 kg
Pages: 336
Languages: Japanese and English
Price: 18,000 yen (excl. tax)
Limited to 1,500 copies