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  ©Kozo Miyoshi

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Kozo Miyoshi began to take photographs in the 1970’s, and has made series of works more than 30 years. His recent works with an 8×10-inch large format camera are still fresh in viewer’s mind, such as “Somewhere, Sometime” (2007) from travels in Japan, and “SAKURA” photographs from 1998. On the other hand, he began to take photographs with 6×6-cm medium format camera in the 1970’s. The series of work with 6×6 camera titled “See Saw” was exhibited in 1983 including photographs from 1978. It was his second exhibition in Japan. The exhibition titled “SEE SAW” this time focuses newly selected images by Miyoshi from “See Saw” that have not been exhibited.

It was his early 30s when Miyoshi had an exhibition “See Saw. He mentioned at that time that he always had certain intangible scenes, such as “reality of life, the confused moment of awakening from sleep, and the yearning for a dream-like hope”, in his subconscious mind. He also mentioned, “When these scenes appear before me I recognize them, and transfer their charged vibrations to the flat surface of photographs.” Newly selected and printed images for the exhibition “SEE SAW” are not showing oldness, and they are fresh like new works even after 27 years from previous exhibition. This is simply because Miyoshi continues his style of photographs. When he encounters the scenes what he wants to see and take photographs, he always asks himself “What is this?” “Why?” If the scenes before him agree to let him take photographs, he takes photographs.

Various layers of coincidental encounter moved him to print images that have not been exhibited before. The one trigger is the book project. The book “ORIGIN” was published in the end of 2010 from match and company, Inc. And another trigger is the exhibition “Kozo Miyoshi Photographs” (at the alternative space, VACANT, in Gingu-mae) that is held at the same time as “SEE SAW” exhibition. Miyoshi mentions, “It is enjoyment of photography that my work ‘See Saw’ once exhibited and completed appear again by these wonderful layers of chance and encounter.”

Around 20 prints, including b/w prints at the time of 1983 also b/w prints newly selected and printed, are shown at the exhibition.

Kobo Miyoshi

Born in Chiba, Japan in 1947. He graduated from the Department of Photography at Nihon University College of Art in 1971.

He began his photographic career in the 1970s and started shooting an 8×10-inch large format camera in 1981. In 2009 he upgraded to an ultra large format 16×20-inch camera which he continues to use on his travels. Miyoshi’s photographs have received international acclaim for their unique and sincere approach to his fleeting subjects.

Exhibitions at PGI