photography exhibition: i am an ‘object’ - zen-foto.jp am an “object”_zen foto...

1060032 669 208 Piramide Building, 2F, 669 Roppongi, Minatoku, Tokyo 1060032 JAPAN +81(0)3 6804 1708 | info@zenfoto.jp | www.zenfoto.jp

Photography exhibition:

i am an ‘object’

Tokyo Rumando

Tamiko Nishimura, Emi Anrakuji, Hideka Tonomura, Tokyo Rumando, YiYi Wan, Ting Cheng

Dates: 2017 3 10 ( )~4 4 ( )

Organizing Coordinator Amanda Lo

Introduction


Emi Anrakuji Tokyo Rumando object

object object

Zen Foto Gallery is pleased to present the photography exhibition i am an ‘object’ from March 10 to April 4

featuring works by Tamiko Nishimura , Emi Anrakuji, Hideka Tonomura , Tokyo Rumando , YiYi Wan and Ting Cheng . Taking

the concept ‘object’ as a key focal point, this exhibition investigates relationships between viewers and objects in

photography through the eyes of six artists with different sociocultural and biographical backgrounds.

2017 3 10 4 4 Tokyo

Rumando i am an ‘object’

object 6

object



Emi Anrakuji Tokyo Rumando object

object object

object object

object

(Subject) (Viewer)

object

object

Zen Foto Gallery is pleased to present the photography exhibition i am an ‘object’ from March 10 to April 4 featuring

works by Tamiko Nishimura , Emi Anrakuji, Hideka Tonomura , Tokyo Rumando , YiYi Wan and Ting Cheng . Taking the

concept ‘object’ as a key focal point, this exhibition investigates relationships between viewers and objects in photography

through the eyes of six artists with different sociocultural and biographical backgrounds.

The word “object” consists of a whole variety of meanings depending on its context. Generally, an “object” can be understood

as a “purpose” or “target” and also be widely referred to as anything that can be “recognized”, “imagined”, or “observed”; In

grammar it can be referred to as the “receiver” of an action as a noun while as a verb, the word expresses “disagreement”; In

the world of photography, an object can be referred to the “subject being photographed” or a “material thing”, which

reminds us of the object’s inseparable and interactive relationship with the subject or the viewer.

This exhibition features works of: artist photographing a subject with a subjective concept, artist observing the ‘self’ in the

process of selfexploration, artist portraying the impression of objects through observation, artist confronting with the reality

by capturing surrounding objects, artist being both the object and subject in photographs, artist composing the impression of

subject with material objects, and so forth. Through multiple ways of seeing, this exhibition attempts to explore the meaning

of “object” featured in each work, its relevant context, as well as how each “object” is perceived by the viewers.

2017 3 10 4 4 Tokyo Rumando

i am an ‘object’ object

6

object

object

object

object

2


(Tamiko Nishimura, b. 1948 ) kittenish... (1970)

Tamiko Nishimura (b. 1948, Tokyo) felt an unknown gaze upon her which gave her an urge to photograph her

female friend in a private room over a night in the series “kittenish ” (1970). According to the artist, it is not realistic

to abandon her identity as a woman when she photographs, but she also doesn't photograph consciously as a woman

she photographs only by following her gut feeling, as an individual regardless of gender identities.

1948

1970

Tamiko Nishimura kittenish… (1970) gelatin silver print on baryta paper.

p:10x12 inch. edition of 5. Kittenish#19 | Kittenish#38 | Kittenish#32

3


(Emi Anrakuji, b. 1963 )

Emi Anrakuji (b. 1963, Japan)’s photographs include many self portraits that show parts of her body in vignettes

with soft, natural light. Sometimes she also incorporates objects, handmade by the artist herself, that may be arousing

or associated with femininity in the portraits. To the artist, photography is the process of selfexploration, but “once

the works are published they no longer represent me (the artist) but the viewers themselves”.

1963

Emi Anrakuji Untitled… (2008)

cprint. p:33.6x43.5 cm i:29.6x39.5 cm. edition of 10.

Untitled#01 | Untitled#02 | Untitled#03

4


( ) (2003 2005

YiYi Wan (Taiwan) created the series “Repression? Release?” (20032005) with pinhole photography. She placed a

gaze upon and slowly depicted the female bodies with a pinhole camera, adding explanations about their

backgrounds and mindsets to the photographs. She also included herself as the photographic subject in her works,

attempting to explore the power balance between genders in Asian societies and cultures in a poetic way.

YiYi Wan 2003 2005

YiYi Wan Repression? Release?… (20032005) archival inkjet print on ultra smooth fine art paper p:20.5x13.7 cm i:12.7x10.16 cm. edition of 15.

#1 Womanliness as a Masquerade | #6 Song of Desire | #11 Flow from Blow

5


Hideka Tonomura, b. 1979 They called me Yukari (2013) 2005 2008

Hideka Tonomura (b. 1979, Kobe)’s series “They called me Yukari” (2013) consists snapshots of people and

environment around the artist when she was working in a Japanese hostess bar from 2005 to 2008 in Kabukicho,

Shinjuku. Moments of people who gathered in the night world of Shinjuku were captured in monochrome and red

light.

1979 (They called me Yukari) 2013

2005 2008

Hideka Tonomura They called me Yukari (2013) digital print on rc paper.

i&p:141.5 cm x 78 cm. edition of 3.

6


Tokyo Rumando ( b. 1980 ) ( )

Rest 3000~ Stay 5000~ 3000 ~ 5000 ~ (2012)

Tokyo Rumando (b. 1980, Tokyo) visited oldfashioned love hotels of Tokyo’s pleasure districts such as Shinjuku,

Ikebukuro and Uguisudani (Yoshiwara) alone in her self portrait series “Rest 3000~ Stay 5000~” (2012), naming

after the price signs commonly seen outside the love hotels. The series puts together street snapshots taken nearby

and inside the hotels as well as staged portraits shot inside the hotel rooms. To match up with the atmosphere or

occasions, the artist would dress up with different costumes and makeups as if she is being watched by someone.

The artist, in this series, is the photographer, director, subject being photographed, and viewer.

Tokyo Rumando 1980 ( )

Rest 3000 Stay 5000 2012

Tokyo Rumando Rest 3000~ Stay 5000~ (2012) silver gelatin print on fuji bromide baryta paper

p:8x10 inch. unique #976 | #941 | #939

7


(Ting Cheng, b. 1985 ) Hound Are You (AW14 ) Sexy? Easy!

/

Ting Cheng (b. 1985, Taipei) did an art collaboration project with a Thai fashion brand in the publication “Hound Are

You?” (AW14 Typography Issue). The series titled “Sexy? Easy!” consists of surrealistic, intriguing and often sarcastic

portraits composed of food, plants, artificial utensils or objects.

1985

Hound Are You? 2014 Sexy?Easy!

Ting Cheng Sexy? Easy! (2014) gicleé fine arts prints on canson baryta gloss paper

i&p: 35.4x26.7 cm. edition of 5 Watering me | Pizza Ha Bubble tea | Pasta disk

8

photography exhibition: i am an ‘object’ - zen-foto.jp am an “object”_zen foto...

Documents