Urban Diversion 2.0
The International Center of Photography (ICP) is currently running an exhibition on recent photography and video from Japan called Heavy Light. Although the exhibit is incredible, it was not all within my taste. I did see one piece by Naoya Hatakeyama, however, that made it worth the admission alone. Perhaps this is more telling of my obsession with patterns and cities.
[Image: 70 prints make up Naoya Hatakeyama’s piece, Untitled 1989-2001. Courtesy of La Galerie.]
Excuse the low quality image, it was all I could find on the internet of the whole piece. I did find some detail images, however.
[Image: The grid of photographs reveals a range of lighting conditions. Courtesy of Universes in Universe.]
Arranged in a grid, 10 across by 7 down, are 70 aerial shots of Rikuzentakada City. These images were accumulated from over a decade, 1989-2001, of photographs taken of different parts of the city. I am not sure whether the method was intentional or not, but it reveals more about lighting than it does change. It was difficult to spot two images of the same part of the city. I was able to find a few, but they were from different angles. Any change in urban form or architecture over time was lost.
It was purely fascinating to me, because the overall piece was layered with an enormous amount of texture and color. Within which, each piece had its own variations in texture and color, being an aerial photograph. To me this reinforces the idea of power in restraint with respect to art and design. There can be tremendous beauty in simplicity.
[Image: One of the individual photographs from Untitled 1989-2001. Courtesy of Universes in Universe.]
The exhibit at the ICP has been running since May 16. If you live in New York, or are visiting, the exhibit will be running until September 7.
Heavy Light: Recent Photography and Video from Japan will present the exciting and highly individualistic work of a new generation of Japanese artists who have come of age following the Asian economic crash of 1990. For the last several years, China has been the focus of attention for contemporary Asian art, while the remarkable and distinctive younger generation of Japanese artists who are working today has been largely ignored. This ICP exhibition will be the first major U.S. presentation of contemporary photo-based artwork from Japan in over ten years. Heavy Light will present the work of thirteen artists and will fill most of the ICP gallery space. The exhibition will include both photographs and video, many of which are large and dramatic pieces. Curated by ICP curator Christopher Phillips and Noriko Fuku of the University of Art and Design in Kyoto, Heavy Light will be accompanied by a comprehensive catalogue and a range of public programs.
More from Naoya Hatakeyama via La Galerie:
Gallery 01: Blast
Gallery 02: Lime Works/Lime Hills
Gallery 03: Underground
Gallery 04: River
Gallery 05: Venice Biennale
Gallery 06: Still Life
Gallery 07: Slow Glass
Gallery 08: Water + River Shadow
Gallery 09: Atmos, 2003
Gallery 10: Zeche Westfalen I/II, Ahlen Kohlenwäsche
You should really check his other work if you are interested in the landscape and infrastructure. The piece in the photographs is part of Gallery 05: Venice Biennale.
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