Photographer Nobuyoshi Araki's photo exhibition "Nobuyoshi Araki: A Collection of Photos of the Afterlife - A Journey of Love" will be held at the Niigata City Art Museum from August 9th.

This exhibition is not a retrospective, but rather, just as the Buddhist text "Ojoyoshu" advocates chanting the Nembutsu daily to attain rebirth in paradise after death, this exhibition showcases his current approach to photographing his own daily life and the activities of others through his early representative works as well as his latest works. The keyword is "love." From his early major work "Sentimental Journey" (1971), which captured his honeymoon with his wife Yoko, to "Winter Journey" (1991), which features dated photographs from the time his wife was diagnosed with uterine sarcoma until her death, Araki's love has expanded to include his pet cats, the city of Tokyo where he was born and raised, actresses, flowers, and the sky.

Through two series: "Niigata Elegy" (1988), which documents the vibrant streets and people of Niigata's Furumachi neighborhood in the late 1980s, and "Winter Love" (1998), which compiles "scenes of a romantic trip" with actress Otake Kazue at Niigata's ports and inns, this exhibition also showcases how traveler Araki interacted with the city of Niigata.

Araki is known for his handcrafted illustrations, including his own portraits, and title letters for his photo books. For this exhibition, he has contributed calligraphy that enhances the exhibition space for "Love's Journey," written in ink on Japanese paper, and his new photographic series, "Love Cut" (2014), which consists of two Polaroids cut in half and pasted together in different positions. Also on display is a silkscreen depicting his wife, with the lipstick area hand-colored. In addition, there will be events digging into Araki's appeal from various angles, including "Araki's Fantastic Conversation" between Araki and Tsuji Tsuneo, the artist who introduced him to Ito Jakuchu (September 7th at 2pm at Mediaship Nippo Hall), and a screening of a documentary that closely follows Araki's daily life, from nude modeling shoots to him talking about his feelings for his wife (September 6th to 12th).


【Event Information】
"Nobuyoshi Araki: Collection of Immortal Portraits - Journey of Love"
Venue: Niigata City Art Museum, Special Exhibition Room
Address: 5191-9 Nishiohata-cho, Chuo-ku, Niigata City
Dates: August 9th to October 5th
Hours: 9:30am to 6:00pm (ticket sales until 5:30pm)
Closed: August 18th and 25th, September 1st, 8th, 16th, 24th, and 29th
Admission Fee: Adults 1,000 yen, University and High School Students 800 yen, Middle School Students and younger free