Abstraction

Cleaning by Kenya Hara

View all 8 Photos

The art of cleaning, captured in beautiful photos and poetic texts.

Exploring the concept of cleaning as a “core value of societies around the globe”, the stunning, beautifully designed book Cleaning by Kenya Hara features a collection of thematic photos and poetic observations. Published by Lars Müller Publishers, the book is edited by acclaimed Japanese designer, bestselling author and curator Kenya Hara, who is also art director at renowned company Muji. The compact, portable book has 504 pages and 374 illustrations. The images depict the concept of cleaning in virtually all of its aspects, from washing, wiping and scrubbing to dusting, sweeping, clearing, and erasing – separated into different chapters. An inherent part of the everyday and of human nature, cleaning also expresses the ways we interact with our surroundings, whether it’s a home or a public space.

Cleaning by Kenya Hara - Gessato

The book takes readers on a fascinating journey through the process cleaning in all of its different aspects, showcasing an array of methods of keeping the world both clean and orderly. Images depict things as different as the deep-clean of a ship to the sorting of toys by a child, the washing of traditional Persian carpets in a mountain river, or the raking of leaves in a park, thus presenting the familiar act of cleaning from different perspectives. Texts with a poetic soul give the photographs deeper layers, inviting readers to see this everyday process in a new way.

Designed by Kenya Hara and Takuya Seki, Cleaning features photographs by Yoshihiko Ueda and Taiki Fukao, and contributions by Kenya Hara, Takuya Seki, and Mariko Hara. At the end of the book, the Pleasant, Somehow essay appears in English as well as in more than 10 other languages. Photography by Yoshihiko Ueda, Taiki Fukao.

Cleaning by Kenya Hara - Gessato

Cleaning by Kenya Hara - Gessato

Cleaning by Kenya Hara - Gessato

Cleaning by Kenya Hara - Gessato

Cleaning by Kenya Hara - Gessato

Cleaning by Kenya Hara - Gessato

Cleaning by Kenya Hara - Gessato

More for you

Mon58


Architecture

A concrete annex transformed and extended into cozy home that opens to views of the S…

Clinique Monkland


Interior Design

A modern dentist office design that draws inspiration from the warmth and coziness of…

Concrete House


Architecture

A concrete house designed with overlapping geometries that enable a variety of spatia…

The Respectful Transformation ...


Architecture

Originally designed by Aaron Green, the protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright, Green House ha…

Casa PJA


Architecture

The rehabilitation and expansion of an old agricultural building in the Italian Alps….

The Uneg Office


Interior Design

A minimalist space that captures a Korean studio’s approach to furniture, object, and…

Around the world

Mala Vila


Around the World

Designed with mirror walls, these four cabins perfectly reflect the surrounding woodl…

Kimpton Las Mercedes Hotel


Around the World

A Historic Landmark Reimagined: Kimpton Las Mercedes Brings New Life to Santo Domingo…

Treehouse Villas, A Nature-Cen...


Around the World

Seven tree house villas in Bali nestled among lush vegetation on a sloping site that …

Staff Picks

K-BAR

The Humble Collection of Portable, Waterproof Lamps

KiKö, The Transformation of a 1913 Single-Family Home

Tom Dixon’s Groove Outdoor Furniture Collection

Stay Updated

FacebookPinterestRedditLinkedInEmailWhatsAppX