An Introduction to Shadows: Photography from Japan

Santa Monica, CA - Marshall Gallery is pleased to present a curated group exhibition of photographs from Japan made over the past quarter century by both masters of the medium and emerging artists. 

 

Artists: Kenji Aoki, Chieko Shiraishi, Miho Kajioka, Masao Yamamoto, Mika Horie, Toshio Shibata, Masahisa Fukase, Kenro Izu, Daido Moriyama, and Kensuke Koike.

 

Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 12 PM – 6 PM

 

A sense of mystery and dream-state memories pervade the presentation of works that embrace minimalism, tactility, and muted palettes. In Kenji Aoki’s Bauhaus-influenced studio constructions, Kensuke Koike's Surrealist collages, and the poetic wanderings of Miho Kajioka and Masao Yamamoto, rich, warm-toned, and humbly scaled prints exemplify contemporary approaches from Japan. Tokyo-based Chieko Shiraishi's shadowy prints from her series "Shimakage" ("Shadow of the Island") are being exhibited in the US for the first time. 

 

Bringing vivid color to the exhibition are the pulpy cyanotypes of Mika Horie, made on irregular, handmade sheets of gampi paper, alongside an example of Kenro Izu's iconic "Blue Nudes", and Toshio Shibata's austere architectural studies. Representing a prior generation of Japanese masters, select silver gelatin prints from Masahisa Fukase's "Ravens" and Daido Moriyama are also included. 

 

The exhibition was inspired by a trip to Japan earlier this year and subsequent realization of our own limited awareness of the island nation's extensive history of photography. We hope that the installation will pique visitors' interest in the uniquely reticent approach of many Japanese practitioners while offering rarely seen photo-objects to discerning collectors. 

 

A project room installation will show Western works from Japan by Ryan McIntosh, Paul Caponigro, Albarrán Cabrera, and more.