Rinko Kawauchi - Aila - 2004

Hardcover without dustjacket; unpaginated; still sealed in shrinkwrap with title belly band affixed; as new condition.

AILA is a critically acclaimed 2004 photobook by Japanese contemporary photographer Rinko Kawauchi that explores the delicate boundaries between life, death, and the ephemeral beauty of existence.The title Aila translates to "family" or "big family" in Turkish, which reflects the overarching theme of global interconnectedness among all living things.

The sequence prominently documents the raw, precious moments of various creatures entering the world. This includes the live births and hatchings of chicks, horses, dogs, turtles, and human beings.

Kawauchi juxtaposes these vibrant beginnings with the quiet inevitability of death. The book illustrates how some creatures die shortly after birth, while others are consumed by predators to sustain the food chain.

Interspersed between intense cosmic milestones are portraits of completely ordinary situations, objects, landscapes, and plants. This grounding mechanism forces the viewer to find wonder in the mundane realities of daily life.

The imagery is widely recognized for its soft, nuanced color palette, natural light, and overexposed, transparent tones that lend a dreamy, poetic quality to heavy subject matter.

Kawauchi shot the series using square format film, employing intentional tight cropping and specific perspectives to foster a sense of physical and emotional intimacy.Shinto Influence: Deeply rooted in Shinto philosophy, her sequencing rejects the notion that any subject is too small. Every animal, insect, or drop of water is captured as though it possesses its own spiritual essence.AILA remains one of Kawauchi's largest and most completed masterworks. Originally published by Little More in 2004, it was later re-released in a newly designed edition by FOIL in 2005.