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  ©Ikko Narahara Archives

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Japanesque: Zen

“Japanesque” is composed of eight subseries: Zen, The Sword, Courtesans, Noh, Sumo, Samurai, Mount Fuji, and Awa Dance. The series began in 1968 and was published in 1970.

In the present exhibition PGI focuses on the particular series “Zen.” At a young age, Narahara was exposed to American culture as it was increasingly prevalent in postwar Japan, and within it he saw and opportunity to identify and face the traditions of Japan. An encounter with colorful shunga paintings in Paris inspired Narahara to begin work on “Japanesque.” Narahara confronts feelings of estrangement within his own country in “Japanesque” while simultaneously, personal memories such as a family visit to Mount Fuji and recollections of his grandfather’s katana sword collection remain a lingering presence.

Ikko  Narahara

Born in Fukuoka, Japan in 1931. He began his career in photography with the highly controversial debut exhibition Man and His Land in 1956 and received a master’s degree in Art from Waseda University in 1959. Narahara also co-founded the VIVO cooperative alongside Shomei Tomatsu, Eikoh Hosoe, Kikuji Kawada and others in 1959 (the group dissolved in 1961). Basing himself in Paris (1962-1964) and later New York (1970-1974) he went on to photograph various locations throughout the globe. After returning to Japan in 1974 he continued pursuing international projects as well as putting on multiple exhibitions. Narahara has published numerous monographs and received critical acclaim both at home and abroad.

Exhibitions at PGI