DEISGNART TOKYO - Art Works & Installations
One of the largest Japan’s Design & Art Festival is soon to be launch on October 18-27, 2019. Visitors will able to explore and find something they fall in love with during this 10 days exhibition, not only appreciated the art and design but visitors able to purchase their favorite items.
One of the largest Japan’s Design & Art Festival is soon to be launch on October 18-27, 2019. Visitors will able to explore and find something they fall in love with during this 10 days exhibition, not only appreciated the art and design but visitors able to purchase their favorite items. This year, over 100 participating venues will be joining this festival and estimate with over 200,000 visitors will be participating in Tokyo, Japan.
Art Works & Installations Only Viewable at DESIGNART TOKYO - Grand Seiko at Jing Harajuku
The exhibition ‘THE NATURE OF TIME,’ which was unveiled at Milano Salon, will be recreated at Jing in Harajuku. The producer Toshiki Kiriyama of TRUNK K.K and creators Contemporary design studio we+ and motion Graphic Director Shingo Abe were all recruited to realize this installation that explores the true essence of time and the conception of time in Japanese with its closeness to nature. The show digs down into the deeper meaning of creating things.
MAD DOG JONES @ DIESEL ART GALLERY
Highly rated for its unusual selection of artists, DIESEL ART GALLERY in Shibuya will be playing host to the world’s first ever exhibition of Canadian visual artist MAD DOG JONES, who shot to fame through instagram. The art works to go on display here take son the challenge of fusing two contrasting themes.
Toronto based artist MAD DOG JONES holds the world premiere exhibition. MAD DOG JONES is known for his unique artworks that expressing two conflicting elements, cyberpunk and nature. More than 20 pieces of new works will be shown which are available for purchase, and related goods such as T-shirts will be sold at the exhibition.
Raison d’être (Our Purpose)
With a history crossing over 190 years, Wakabayashi Butsugi Mfg Co,. Ltd. specializes in Kyoto-style Buddhist altars and accouterments. It's "raison d 'être" exhibition will be showing a GUM Omotesando, showcasing creations from six artisans: Satoshi Itasaka, Jin Kuramoto, Yuko Nagayama, Kohei Nawa, Yuko Hashimoto, and Shiogo Mashiro. Each of the artists investigates the opportunities for Buddhist Altar design and reveals their ideas through traditional craftsmanship.
Wakabayashi Butsugu is a Buddhist altar and furnishings manufacturer founded in Kyoto in 1830. Working with skilled carpenters, lacquer workers, and metalsmiths, Wakabayashi has provided altars and furnishings for both temples and private homes since its founding. The company brings together the highly specialized skills and carefully honed techniques of the various artisans of Kyoto, applying them to the repair and restoration of temples and national treasures throughout Japan.
Working with designers from various fields, Wakabayashi is producing art pieces and products that incorporate the techniques of traditional handicraft with the aim of preserving and passing down this invaluable craft and technique of these highly skilled artisans.
This exhibition is the latest project by Wakabayashi Butsugu, an established Buddhist altar and furnishings maker from Kyoto with almost 200 years of history. It is a new kind of Buddhist altar, personalized and made-to-order for the family and the departed.
Together with product designers, architects, and artists, we have reimagined the altar by drawing on its three aspects- as a piece of furniture in homes, as a miniaturized temple structure, and as an object of prayer. Through the traditional craft of skilled artisans, we have created a collection of modern altars.
For this first collection, we worked with creators Yukio Hashimoto, Satoshi Itasaka, Jin Kuramoto, Shigeo Mashiro, Yuko Nagayama, and Kohei Nawa to bring new perspectives to Buddhist altars and the expression of craft.
For more information, please visit Designart Tokyo website: http://designart.jp/designarttokyo2019/
Designart Tokyo 2019
Date: October 18th (Friday) - 27th (Mon)
Area: Omotesando- Gaienmae Harajuku/ Meiji-jngumae Shibuya - Ebisu Daikanyama-Nakameguro Roppongi-HIROO Shinjuku Ginza
What is DESIGNART TOKYO? (I)
Held each autumn DESIGNART TOKYO is one of Japan’s largest art & design festivals. With the concept of “Emotions”, interiors, art, fashion and food from all around the world are collected with a genre-defying spirit. Decorating the coolest areas of Tokyo with art, making it fun to walk around and visit all the different exhibits, transforming the entire city into a museum over the course of ten days.
Israel Announced as Official Partner Country!
Israel is decided as the Partner Country of this year's DESIGNART TOKYO. As part of the Exchange Project, more than 10 participants from Jerusalem Design Week (JDW) will exhibit their works. (From Japan, Shota Hayakawa and Yuri Himuro of last year's Designart Tokyo, have participated in the JDW 2019 in June.)
With a showcase of local materials, installations, projects and events stemming from the recent editions of JDW, the exhibition will explore the tensions and hybrids which define a unique Israeli design approach
Ginza & Shinjuku Join the Party!
TOKYU PLAZA GINZA X Bunkamura X Toraya Exhibition
< KIRIKO LOUNGE / Tokyu Plaza 6th Floor >
Tokyu Plaza Ginza will serve as the Information Center for the Ginza area. At KIRIKO LOUNGE, located on the landmark building’s 6th floor, poetry evoking the season of autumn in the Ginza area will be recited as part of an event titled “Gin-cha-kai” (Silver Tea Party), while Toraya, the venerable purveyor of Japanese sweets and patron of traditional arts and crafts, will be supporting an exhibition titled “TOKYU PLAZA GINZA Å~ Bunkamura SPECIAL PROGRAM ～ Toraya,
Principles of Japanese Sweets”, curated by Ryusuke Nanki. The show will examine the expression of the four seasons and the origins of craftsmanship through the lens of Japanese sweets, while visitors can experience the joys of creating Japanese sweets at the adjacent Sukiyabashi Chabo.
Lalique x Damian Hirst “Eternal” Collection
< Lalique >
The revered house of Lalique, known as “The haute couture of crystal glass”, has entered into a partnership with world-renowned contemporary artist Damien Hirst to produce a collection titled “Eternal”. Melding Hirst’s conception of “The Cycle of Life” with the house’s unrivalled craftsmanship has resulted in art pieces the likes of which have never been seen before and which visitors will be sure to enjoy seeing up close. ETERNAL IMMACULATE
Photographed by Fran.ois Fernandez ˝ Damien Hirst, Science Ltd and Lalique. All rights reserved, DACS/ADAGP 2017
Shiseido Gallery / From “Moulting”(2019) by Jay Chung & Q Takeki Maeda
< Shiseido Gallery >
Shiseido is a cosmetics brand whose identity is deeply entwined with the history of Ginza. Celebrating its centenary this year “Shiseido Gallery” is Japan’s oldest art gallery and this year it will participate in DESIGNART TOKYO for the first time. The gallery will be featuring an exhibition selected by Berlin-based conceptual artists Jay Chung & Q Takeki Maeda as well as an exhibition of craftsmanship featuring arabesque patterns.
Please stay tuned for more information with us or you may visit: http://designart.jp
One room. Three exhibitions. Blurring the edge between fine art and design from Poland
‘Room PLus’ is a 6 weeks long project that will showcases three exhibitions of emerging and more established designers from Poland at the Design Centre PMQ in Hong Kong.
‘Room PLus’ is a 6 weeks long project that will showcases three exhibitions of emerging and more established designers from Poland at the Design Centre PMQ in Hong Kong. The key idea of ‘Room PLus’ concept is to bring innovative free thinking designers and artists from Poland to Hong Kong. The exhibitions will be followed by a program of workshops. ‘Room PLus’ is a part of Polish Cultural Festival.
1. “Around the Table – Polish Party”
Group Exhibition.
Presented in this exhibition will be 50 table accessories, experimental prototypes and unique objects authored by >20 Polish designers from Gdańsk - one of the leading trend-setting centers of European material culture.
Curator: Prof. Sławomir Fijałkowski
Concept Design: dr Marta Flisykowska (Gdansk Academy of Fine Art, Poland)
During the month of May, Studio Ziben will partner with Chef Daisuke Mori at the renowned One Michelin-starred Hong Kong restaurant ‘Takumi by Daisuke Mori’, where special collages will be displayed in the venue and inspire the culinary experience. The meaningful collaboration will offer gastronomies the unique opportunity to savour a menu designed exclusively for the event, where the craft, philosophy and feeling of the artwork is beautiful reflected into culinary creations.
2. Studio Ziben
“RE&UP”: Furnitures and Collages Exhibition. Curator: Dr. Agnieszka Mori
The first Asian exhibition of Berlin-based internationally renowned Polish artist and designer Mariusz Małecki (Studio Ziben). Blurring the edge between fine art and design, the exhibition will showcase unique furniture together with original collage art works. Design, Craftsmanship, Sustainability and individual Approach combine with Functionality and Timelessness.
With the opening on May 10th, 2019 ‘Room Plus’ is proud to present “RE&UP”, the first Asia exhibition of internationally renowned artist and designer Mariusz Małecki /Studio Ziben (Poland, 1974). The exhibition will showcase Studio Ziben unique furniture together with original collage art works.
The designer lives with his passion for the creation of individual pieces of furniture and objects. His ideas arise spontaneously and intuitively through associations. In this way, Małecki designs fascinating objects that always have a story to tell. Free thinking and spontaneity are combined with functionality, aesthetics, and timelessness. Simple and contemporary design characterizes every handcrafted piece of furniture which is made of the highest quality materials from Poland.
His childhood and youth were dominated by the socialist design of the Eastern block. After graduating from high school, he started to study design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznan (PL) and Minerva Academy in Groningen (NL). During his studies he started to make his first designs and worked for Polish furniture industry. In 2007, he moved to Berlin to create his own furniture brand. Studio Ziben is a collection of different ideas.
He often cooperates with different architecture studios and private customers, developing the concept of offices and apartments design. To mention just a few: 2016 - Circus Hotel - foyer furnishings, 2014 - Cooperation with Gensler Architects/London for Google Office in Munich/DE furniture design. The furniture of Studio Ziben, mostly unique pieces are also a part of the private furniture collection/private apartments in New York, Berlin and Poland.
Thanks to fast increasing popularity of his designs, Małecki is regularly invited to prestigious international furniture design exhibitions all over the world, such as Dutch Design Week, ICFF in Manhattan, New York and TV furniture shows as a design expert - (5 episodes, ZDF).
Freedom, free thinking and spontaneity are key parts of Małecki creative process. Studio Ziben designs are unexpected and full of humor - a reflection of the new Berlin and its youthful irreverence to tradition and convention and a reference to the Bauhaus movement, which was established exactly 100 years ago in Germany. In addition, a number of brand new art works from the recent Collage works series will be on view. These collages are made of recycled materials collected by Małecki for many years. They combine paper, wood and other materials. The way Małecki built the images composition is similar to how he creates the furniture. The PMQ exhibition will be followed by two days of workshops, where he will be sharing with the participants the collage and composition techniques.
3. Piotr & Kaja Depta-Kleśta
“Poster & sons”: Posters and Illustrations Exhibition.
Curator: Dr. Agnieszka Mori
The first solo exhibition in Hong Kong of award-winning polish designer’s duo. Piotr and Kaja Depta-Kleśta. Teachers at Academy of Art in Szczecin, Piotr and Kaja are interested in cultural issues. This exhibition will present selective Posters and Illustrations of their works.
For more information, please visit: http://www.pmq.org.hk/event/room-plus-exhibition/
Presented by: Consulate General of Poland in Hong Kong
Organized by: Kocham Polske Hong Kong
Supported by: Adam Mickiewicz Institute
Project Curator: Dr Agnieszka Mori
Dates: 28.04.2019 - 05.06.2019
Venue Partner: PMQ, S503, Staunton
Opening hours: 12:00pm -8:00pm
Presented by: Consulate General of Poland in Hong Kong
Organized by: Kocham Polske Hong Kong
Supported by: Adam Mickiewicz Institute
Project Curator: Dr Agnieszka Mori
Dates: 28.04.2019 - 05.06.2019
Venue Partner: PMQ, S503, Staunton
Opening hours: 12:00 pm -8:00 pm
“Around the Table – Polish Party”: Group Exhibition
Curator: Prof. Sławomir Fijałkowski, Concept Design: dr Marta Flisykowska (Gdansk Academy of Fine Art, Poland)
28.04 (Sun) Opening Ceremony 12-2pm
28.04-05.05 Public Exhibition 12-8pm
Studio Ziben
“RE&UP”: Furniture and Collage Exhibition | Curator: Dr. Agnieszka Mori
10.05 (Fri) Opening Ceremony, 7pm-9pm
11-12.05 RE&UP Workshops (HUB, PMQ)
11.05 (Sat) 3pm-7pm
12.05 (Sun) 11am-3pm
11.05- 21.05 Public Exhibition 12-8pm
Piotr & Kaja Depta-Kleśta
“Poster & sons”: Posters and Illustrations Exhibition
Curator: Dr. Agnieszka Mori
24.05 (Fri) Opening Ceremony, 7pm-9pm
25-26.05 Poster Design Workshops (S503, PMQ)
25.05 (Sat) 3pm-7pm
26.05 (Sun) 11am-3pm
25.05 - 05.06 Public Exhibition 12-8pm
JAPAN’S FIRST CONCEPT STORE IN HARAJUKU - TIFFANY @ CAT STREET
JAPAN’S FIRST CONCEPT STORE IN HARAJUKU, ―TIFFANY @ CAT STREET
Breakfast at Tiffany’s anyone…?
Tiffany & Co. opened its first concept store in Japan ― Tiffany @ Cat Street – in Harajuku on Friday, April 19. More so than any of the existing Tiffany & Co. stores in Japan, the experiential design for Tiffany @ Cat Street showcases the wit, creativity and timelessness of the brand. From jewelry to Home & Accessories, the store offers a thematically curated selection and presentation of iconic designs.
Tiffany @ Cat Street will be a Tiffany & Co. experience unlike any other. Unique for its elevated informality and playfulness, this dynamic space reflects an unusual and exciting expression of our brand,” said Richard Moore, divisional vice president—Global Store Design & Creative Visual Merchandising, Tiffany & Co
The futuristic architecture of the building coupled with the Tiffany @ Cat Street logo on an iconic Tiffany Blue® background makes the store truly stand out. Each of the store’s six levels presents a different selection of items and services. The caselines are complemented by a wall inspired by the famous Tiffany Blue Box® with floor-to-ceiling shelves to display pieces from jewelry and Home & Accessories collections, creating a captivating atmosphere.
“By opening this new concept store in an area where creative people gather for fashion, art and culture, we will showcase the brand in an environment that encourages customers to discover and rediscover the magical world of Tiffany,”
said Daniel Perel, president of Tiffany & Co. Japan.
The top floor will host the first Tiffany cafe in Japan, aptly named ―The Tiffany Cafe @ Cat Street. The café serves a range of foods and drinks from croissants and coffee to other New York City temptations such as hot dogs and cheese pretzels, and sweet treats such as Tiffany @ Cat Street donuts and cookies.
The first highlighted collection for the opening will be Tiffany T, the latest icon of Tiffany that embodies the energy and creativity of New York City. Also featured will be a curated assortment of items displayed in a unique way, from other iconic collections such as Tiffany HardWear and Tiffany Paper Flowers™ to the brand new Tiffany T True pieces. In addition, to celebrate the opening, limited edition charms in sterling silver, as well as in 18K rose gold engraved with the Tiffany @ Cat Street store logo are offered exclusively, while new Tiffany T Smile mini color pendant and bracelet sets in pink sapphire, yellow sapphire, and blue topaz made its worldwide debut at this special location.
Tiffany @ Cat Street was opened on Friday, April 19, 2019. The store layout is intentionally flexible so that it can be adapted and changed throughout its lifespan, creating a blank canvas for a rotation of Tiffany collections.
For more information of Tiffany @ Cat Street:
Tiffany @ Cat Street
Address: 6-14-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Floor area: 469.77 m2
URL: https://www.tiffany.com/jewelry-stores/cat-street
Tel: 0120-488-712
Opening hours: 11:00-19:00 (Cafe: 11:30-18:30 Last Order 18:00)
An Interview with the Architectural photographer Tae-ho Jeong
Architectural photographer Tae-ho Jeong graduated from Seoul Art College (Department of Photography) is acting as an expert photographer in the field of architecture and interior design. He represents Space Studio, is a regular member of KAPA (Korea Advertising Photographer Association), and works as the head of the photography department at the Interior Design Monthly. He held private exhibitions including Black and White Exhibition hosted by Yeon Art Gallery and Photo exhibition of Korea Interior Design hosted by Gwanhwoon Art Museum. He hosted a book publication ceremony <Light of Enlightenment - Vairocanna Buddha> and photo exhibition at Gallery LaMer, and held a private exhibition through the invite from Gyeongju World Culture Expo. As an active member of a diverse number of group exhibitions including the KAPA member exhibition and International Advertising Photo Exchange, he is remaining active in his work in related fields.
An Interview with Tae-ho Jeong
What are the major impressions you have in terms of differences in architectural photography and taking Buddha images?
I was committed in interior and architectural photography for the last 30 years in Korea. Then in recent 10 years, I devoted myself to showing Buddha images “as they are” with untainted documentary photography rather than through the approach of an architectural photographer. Architectural photography strongly involves capturing the beauty of artificial design and natural aspects together. Also, it is related to finding harmony between space and time.
In the contrary, reinterpreting the figures of delicately carved Buddha into conventional photographs, was challenging. In the beginning of my work, I spent several months to visit the same sites, consistently looking for the most perfect lighting from different times of the day. I eased myself as a photographer and tried to confront and reflect the nature itself as they are without artificial lighting and techniques. I made my best effort to “show them as they are” in purely documentary style photos.
What is your inspiration on showing Buddha images, and what is the message you’d like to convey?
Over 30 years of my career in architectural photography, I realized there is beauty of lines in oriental architecture, which led me to comprehend aesthetic matters from the figures of Buddhas. I personally believe Buddha himself has the most beautiful and generous smile of lines, embracing great depth of mercy. Furthermore, these thoughts guided me into a 10-year long master project.
I am a believer of Buddhism myself before I start my career as an architectural photographer and the teachings of Buddhism have encouraged my career with favorable result as a photographer. Not only just as a believer, but also as an architectural photographer, I think compiling and publishing all the images of the Buddhas scattered around Korea is one of the ways to contribute my skills to Buddhism in a meaningful way.
Over the 10 years of my project, I am strongly aware that numerous Buddhas were damaged from poor maintenance. I hope we all develop awareness of our vulnerable history. From a cultural perspective, the first Buddhist cultural book named <Light of Enlightenment - Vairocana Buddha> was published with a collection of 1,700 images of Buddhas, from the Unified Silla Period to the Chosun dynasty.
Also, I would like emphasis on the back of the Buddha statues to the world. Not a lot of people have the chance to see it and it has been misunderstood as solemn and obscure. Nonetheless, I can feel the monks have contributed significantly even on the rear part of the Buddha statues. I perceive that lines in the back of Buddha statues convey to the world great sense of energy and strength.
By taking this opportunity, I want to share the beauty of the lines of Vairocana Buddha. I hope this collection can bring more interests in Korean culture and Buddhism to everyone.
LIGHT BUILT ON A GREAT ROCK
When an event is held at a Buddhist temple, a flag called the ‘Tang’ is installed at the entrance of the temple. The pole where the flag is hung is called the ‘Tanggan’, and the two stone pillars on either side of the Tanggan’s to support the Tanggan is called the ‘Tanggan Jiju’. The Tanggan Jiju is set-up in front of the temple and is used to mark the sacred area. The biggest Tanggan Jiju in South Korea, At Gulsansa Temple, was built using one giant stone, and showcases the simple yet breathtaking beauty of sculptures. Built during the Unified Silla period, the 5.4 meter granite pillars vibrate with the power and wisdom of the Silla people. The sky was clearing after the evening rain.
A SMILE FROM THE HEAVEN
I cannot forget the moment I first saw the statue. The second it revealed itself from the dark museum storage (after requesting a viewing with much difficulty), I saw a treasured heavenly face, shining an endless smile upon me. I was lost for words for its dignified form did not succumb to flames hot enough to burn the body. The slightly imbalanced face allows mankind to realize ‘something’ deep inside their heart.
THE HEAVEN’S AND EARTH ARE ONE
The ‘Ji-kwon-in’ is a handshape which implies ‘reason and wisdom, all creatures and Buddha, and delusions and enlightenment are one by origin’. Thus, posing the Ji-kwon-in means ‘sound wisdom and rapid enlightenment can be attained through a devout disposition’. The basic form of the Ji-kwon-in holds the two hands in front of one’s chest, holds the left-hand’s forefinger up, and wraps it with the right-hand so the tip of the left-hand forefinger and bottom of the right-hand thumb touches each other. Granite may be well-known for its hardness but seems like it also cannot withstand the weight of time. This photo reflects my intention to focus on becoming one with Buddha and gaining inner peace and rest through the help of the flower blossoms on Buddha’s body.
“It was a big challenge and pleasure to seek out an untaken track. It is my honor to hold an exhibition before the important people who foretold me about the values of the challenge. It was a great pity that there was no guidebook on Buddhist images on the level of the whole country despite the fact that Buddhism had left numerous cultural heritages for us for 1700 years since the religion was introduced to this land.
But at last, it has materialized. I devoted myself to showing Buddha images “as they are” with untainted documentary photography rather than through the approach of an architectural photographer. Lastly, I would like to give big meaning to the fact that the photos collected in the book were surveyed and taken by myself without external assistance.
I would like to invite you to the photography exhibition at the Hong Kong Art Fair. It would be a great pleasure to see you at the event.
Thank you
Photographer Tae-Ho Jeong”
For more detail information, please visit: www.spacephotostudio.com or visit https://www.asiacontemporaryart.com
The Spring edition of the Asia Contemporary Art Show is held on the 40th to 43rd floors of the 5-star Conrad Hong Kong in Pacific Place.
DATES: March 29th - April 1st, 2019
UNIONPAY PRIVATE VIEW (by Invitation only)
Friday, March 29th - 3pm to 5pm
UNIONPAY VIP COLLECTORS PREVIEW (by Invitation only)
Friday, March 29th - 5pm to 9pm
GENERAL ADMISSION
Saturday, March 30th - 1pm to 8pm
Sunday, March 31st - 1 pm to 8pm
Monday, April 1st - 11am to 6pm
PARKING, MTR, TAXIS
The 5-star hotel is conveniently served by the MTR station in the basement of Pacific Place and has abundant car parking and taxi ranks outside the hotel or at Pacific Place 1 and 2.
VENUE ADDRESS
Conrad Hong Kong — Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong
An interview with Yoichiro Nishimura
Flowers of the Shadow
Photogram is one of the oldest techniques in the area of photography. In fact, this could be said to have existed before the invention of photography; there are historical records, predating the creation of photography, which describes the process of capturing a photographic image, by placing the object on top of a paper coated with silver chloride and silver nitrate, and exposing it to light.
Being fascinated by the medium of photogram, Yoichiro Nishimura has continued to apply this technique into many of his artworks over the past years. His practice is not about mere representation of a conscious revival of traditional techniques, nor a return to the source. For Nishimura, photogram is rather a promising ground that allows him to explore and expand his new creative expressions; furthermore, the medium could indicate the possibility of new photographic expressions, still yet to come.
Nishimura has undertaken a new and original photographic technique, which he calls scangram. Scangram (Scanography) can be described as a digital version of photogram. It is a technique to create a negative digital image of an object, such as owers and leaves, by placing them on top of a scanner. Thee biggest feature is in how the color is reversed from the original color into the complimentary color, as much as how the form and outline of an object is captured; thus a red Hibiscus or Azalea would result in a blue-ish outcome. The visual is extraordinary; the owers exude a mystic atmosphere, as if they were bathed in moonlight. rough transforming themselves from the world of the positive to the negative, “owers of the shadow” come to light. When looking back in the history of photography as media expressions, we come across practitioners - similar to magicians or alchemists - who indulged their passions in creating mystical images, rather than representing or documenting the reality as it is. For them, photogram remained an important tool for their creative expressions. Man Ray, known as “alchemist of images” , is one of the many practitioners of photogram representing the 20th century; and clearly, Yoichiro Nishimura is a photographer following the same artistic lineage.
His exploration of photogram will show no end. In the case of scangram, I see no reason why the motif should be limited to plants; potentially, the range of subject matter could be expanded to various objects and living things – including human. Having said that, I feel it was genuinely positive that he started the series with botanical motifs; as the “owers of the shadow” , emanating subtly in the darkness, illuminate the artist himself - reticent, yet remarkably passionate deep inside.
Merci’s Editor-in-chief have an interview with Mr. Nishimura:
Why did you choose to be a photographer?
At a young age, I bought a camera and started to use it as a tool to understand my surroundings, and it gave me an instance of appreciation towards photography and art. I guess it’s not a matter of choice of what you will become, I can be an engineer or an astronomer if I have favored any of that path, but I realized being an artist and a photographer, it’s a selfless consideration. Nowadays, photography is a tool to socialize and engage us virtually; for me, it is a way to express my daily encounters and dialogues between me and with my family, friends, and surroundings. The first significant work I have published is called ‘Life,’ it’s a collection of photographs of my own ‘Ikebana’ or the Japanese art for flower arranging. Daily, I would take shots of tulips and my gift to my first-born daughter. After this experience, my knowledge grows without realizing that I am an artist and a photographer.
What is the inspiration behind your series “Blue Flower” and “Life”?
The “Blue Flower” series is an eight-year abstract of my daily encounters. I was inspired by Man Ray’s photogram, an old and classic shooting technique in which the subject is placed on chemically treated paper and exposed to a light without using a camera resulting to a monochrome image, my version of photogram which I called Scangram is another technique which creates a luminous negative digital version of photogram. The visual reversed effect adds a mystic silhouette as if the image is captured under a moonlight. I sometimes describe my “Blue Flower” series as “flowers of the shadow.”
In “Life” series, I have done years of experiment, capturing the beauty of my own ‘Ikebana’: the Japanese art of flower arrangement. The format which I would like to express is, one of the two translations of the word flower in Japanese Kanji characters (華) meaning elegance. On a dark setting, the flowers are photographed under natural light using a sophisticated camera - Hasselblad, a snapshot where my emotions and values resonate describing the balance between life and death, light and dark, and the Chinese principle of yin and yang.
Do you have any upcoming projects using the Photogram technique?
I am using my technique which is Scangram and will continuously use this technique to my projects. At the moment, I have an upcoming exhibition with Fabrik Gallery who will present my works including both “Blue Flowers” and “Life” series. In the exhibition, I have selected some of the photography works from my photo-catalog or catalog raisonné, and this is exciting for me as it will be my 2nd exhibition and a 1st solo exhibition to show my works.
What is the current Photogram culture in the Asia Pacific (if any) and how does it compare to other parts of the world?
Photogram is known to many professional photographers as students learn the darkroom techniques as early as the means to understand the fundamentals or principles of photography. However, there are not many photographers who have produced photogram works themselves and continue to publish. I think with ever growing and fast development of modern phones and technology as well as social media, this technique is not as accessible to this generation as it takes time to create the end product or image, so it is less used.
Yoichiro Nishimura
There is a dream-like atmosphere surrounding the world of images created by Yoichiro Nishimura - a dream subtly cool, erotic and mysterious.
If you wish to discover more about Yoichiro Nishimura and his Scangram, please visit the Asia https://www.asiacontemporaryart.com
or visit The Asia Contemporary Art Show, started on March 29th – April 1st, 2019 at the heart of Hong Kong, Conrad Hong Kong.