The 58thRhinoceros.
Mr. U, who runs Long Track Foods in Kamakura, used to run a bookstore in Akasaka. I was in my 20s, so it was a long time ago. The name of the store was "Huckleberry," I think. It was probably named after a novel by Mark Twain, since it was a bookstore, rather than after a botanical name.
Times were in the middle of the bubble economy.
I used to take a private cab contracted by the company every day and travel around Tokyo for leasing and meetings. Whenever I had some free time, I would stop by here, and Mr. U would always be there to help me.
One day, Mr. U handed me a hardcover photo book that he thought I would like. Flipping through it, I felt something rush through me. That is how my relationship with Peter Beard began.
The book is signed The End of The Game. This is a book about his relationship with over-hunted African elephants and wild animals after he moved to Kenya. This was at a time when environmental protection was not as keenly pursued as it is today. It is a pioneering effort.
From there, I became interested in him and bought many books related to him. Many of them were already out of print, but when I was lucky enough to find one at a used bookstore near my house, I wanted to run home and read it.
Some time later, I decided to go to Los Angeles on a location assignment. First, I went to the U.S. alone and headed for location scouting with the coordinator.
We talked about many things as we drove around the vast city of Los Angeles. He is now a coordinator, but he used to be a ground staff member of Pan American Airways, and I asked him about the tricks of the trade, such as how to get upgraded.
We started talking about the possibility of working with Bruce Weber, which led to a discussion of photography, and in my spare time he took me to the LaBlair Photography Gallery. There, I saw Peter Beard's photographs, or rather, his artwork, for the first time, and I was shocked.
The prints are from negatives taken around the 1960s, to which he adds his own illustrations and text in cow's blood and ink. The prints are completely original and do not resemble anyone else's work.
I quickly calculated my fee, weighed the rewards I would get for this work, and with all of that (which wasn't enough), I got two pieces.
A few years later, I happened to meet him at a permanent retrospective exhibition in New York, and on the spot I made a request for a work of his, and he drew a new design especially for me. It is now a family heirloom.
In 2004, this company changed its name to Rhino Co. Rhino, or rhinoceros. A mere play on words with my own last name. I also remembered that the team led by Ray Petrie, a London stylist who passed away a long time ago, was called "Buffalo.
There is a pictorial illustration of a rhinoceros on a business card and on the ground floor of the company.Rhinoceros leather figurine by OmelsaThe "Rhinoceros" is also placed in a corner of the house. Wherever I go in the world, I am always interested in things related to rhinoceroses. However, I have not yet acquired Peter Beard's rhinoceros works.
Two years ago or so, I revisited the La Brea gallery after a long time. And when I asked, there was only one rhinoceros photo. The price was six to seven times higher than at that time! I hesitated and gave up.
But a regrettable event occurred this spring. It was the passing of Peter Beard.
A friend of mine who knows a lot about art says that this will raise the price all the way up. I can't afford it anymore.
There is something of a worldwide art boom. Even here in Tokyo, top creators' recent topics of conversation have changed from "sushi restaurants that can't get reservations" to art. I wonder how much it will inflate in the future.
Self-owned pieces? I have no intention of parting with it at all, as I acquired it not for speculative purposes, but purely out of love. Still, if there is someone who insists that he/she will not give up the piece for money --- please consult me (laugh).
Rhinoceros charm ¥33,500+tax,Pendant chain ¥12,500+TAX
This sterling silver charm from the Tiffany Save the Wild Collection was launched in 2017 by Tiffany & Co. to support wildlife conservation and its powerful connection to nature. The collection donates 1001 TP10T of sales profits to the Wildlife Conservation Network, which has so far donated more than $8 million to protect elephants, rhinos, and lions.
PROFILE
After working as a freelance editor, he managed stylists and started his own editing/production company, which changed its name to Rhino Inc. in 2006.
Tiffany & Company Japan, Inc.
Phone: 0120-488-712
