IMA Media Project, the publisher of the photography magazine "IMA," will open the "IMA CONCEPT STORE" on the third floor of the AXIS Building in Roppongi, Tokyo, on March 15th. The store will feature a gallery, merchandise store, and cafe, all specializing in photography. Ahead of the opening, details have been revealed. The store's theme, "LIVING WITH PHOTOGRAPHY," echoes the project's theme. The photographs on display are surrounded by chairs, shelves, desks, and potted plants that match the atmosphere of the works, further enhancing the interior's ambiance. All of these interior pieces are available for purchase. The store's space was produced by JTQ, led by Junji Tanigawa, and the design was handled by SANDWICH, led by Kohei Nawa. The entrance features a giant portrait of a man by NERHOL, an artist duo led by Yoshihisa Tanaka and Ryuta Iida, who are attracting attention from the IMA editorial team. IMA Books, a bookstore stocking 2,000 books, including rare photobooks from international labels with limited domestic distribution, is staffed by book coordinator Masaya Nagai, who offers a variety of commentary on photobooks. When asked for recommendations, he recommends Wolfgang Tillmans, the German photographer who won the Turner Prize in 2000, and Peter Hugo, known for his in-depth exploration of South Africa's racial issues. To the back of the store is the IMA Gallery, where art photography is exhibited and sold. Until April 20, this space is showcasing works by 12 photographers, including photographers previously featured in IMA magazine. This collection showcases a new generation of works that combine art and photography, including Sohei Nishino's "i-Land," a hand-collaged collection of numerous photographs, and Luke Stephenson's collection of nine bird species that resemble paintings. The gallery's exhibits change every month and a half, and affordable pieces are also available. The next planned exhibition will feature works by Kawauchi Rinko, who received last year's Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists.
Facing the entrance, to the left and back, the IMA Cafe, offering coffee and muffins curated by Obscura Coffee Roasters, has opened. The center of the cafe features works by Mori Eiki, winner of the 2013 Kimura Ihei Photography Award and currently working on a project promoting same-sex marriage through photography.
Starting March 17, talk shows and workshops will be held daily, featuring guest appearances from various fields, including Mika Ninagawa, Seiko Ito, and Ellie Omiya. IMA editorial director Mutsuko Ota says, "The artists featured at the gallery are primarily up-and-coming young artists. We hope to take advantage of the spacious interior to host a variety of events in addition to exhibitions."
