The enchanting mystery of 'flower'
Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki rejoices in the power and mystery of flowers and women.
It is quite rare to find a solo exhibition of world-renowned Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki in China.
An exhibition featuring nearly 500 photos captured by the master under the theme of "flower” from 1990 to 2019 is being showcased at the Art Museum of Nanjing University of the Arts (AMNUA) in the capital city of Jiangsu Province.
Titled “Kayu,” the exhibition is curated by Hisako Motoo and Chen Rui.
One of the world's most prolific photographers, Araki specifically created his latest work, “Kayu Scroll,” for this exhibition.
Born in Tokyo in 1940, Araki studied photography at Chiba University, before moving on to work at an advertising agency. There he met and married Yoko Araki. During their married life, Araki took countless images of his wife before she died in 1990.
Known for his diary-like documentation of everyday life, he has published more than 500 books, and in recent years photographed musicians, including Lady Gaga.
In his eyes, flowers and women are similar as they both represent fragility, and are enchanting and mysterious.
Araki represents a generation of artists who emerged in the 1960s as Japan was recovering from World War II. The rapid growth, urbanization and over-commercialism influenced him strongly, which is demonstrated in his work — karaoke bars, Japanese toys and busy cityscapes. He also reflects Japanese traditions in both historical and stylized references.
His photos have been widely exhibited, including at the Tate Modern and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Today, his works are held in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Goetz Collection in Munich and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Date: Through May 12 (closed on Monday), 9:30am-5:30pm
Address: Hall 4, AMNUA, 15 Huju Road N., Gulou District, Nanjing
In Araki's eyes, flowers and women are similar as they both represent fragility, and are enchanting and mysterious.
