Ladies of the lens

By Qi Xijia Source:Global Times Published: 2015-11-24 17:18:01

New exhibition collects works from six Japanese female photographers


A new exhibition at amanasalto Shanghai features six female photographers - Ishiuchi Miyako, Toshiko Okanoue, Sarah Moon, Sakiko Nomura, Yuriko Takagi and Imogen Cunningham - and their perspectives on themes such as postwar, gender, nature, memories and physical existence.

"There are many esteemed female artists in the world of photography," Ji Ying, the gallery manager, told the Global Times.

"I think females have different perspectives to males. Their angles are more unique and subtle. They are good at capturing emotions. The works we showcase this time all reflect certain kinds of emotions, memories and moments."

Ishiuchi Miyako

Born in 1947 Ishiuchi Miyako is known for her unique portrayals of memories from World War II.

"Many of her photographs depict World War II, not in a direct way, but through the perspectives of related objects, space and time to bring that memory to the present," said Ji.

She once photographed body scars and the personal belongings of the victims of the war and those who were killed by the atomic bomb in Hiroshima.

The nine works selected for this exhibition weave the thread of memory from different angles.

By photographing interiors of an abandoned nightclub (pictured above) for US soldiers in Yokosuka and the Bayside Court US military housing complex in Yokohama, the artist revives a space where the American soldiers used to live.

The dark, humid atmosphere of the buildings along with the textures of the used furniture and upholstery come through vividly in the black and white prints.

The frail wallpaper, broken ceilings, damp sofas and abandoned beds force the viewers to think about the people who were once there, and who are now absent.

Though it is distant from the present, the emotion and the spirit remain strong. The pieces force viewers to contemplate how the interior decoration may not only refer to the shapes and furniture left over, but also to the inner trauma caused by the war.

"There could be many stories in the empty rooms. Though there are no figures in the pictures, you can feel the moments of life and depression in these abandoned buildings," said Ji.

Toshiko Okanoue

Born in 1928, Toshiko Okanoue first began making photo collages that explore memory from a lighthearted approach in the 1950s when she was studying fashion design in Tokyo.

Like most young Japanese women in the 1950s when Western culture started to pour into the country, the 20-something Toshiko Okanoue was attracted by the novelty.

She would cut out various image fragments from pictorial and fashion magazines like Life and Vogue.

By combining different faces, body parts, animals and accessories together, she conveys a surreal, dark humor.

In one piece, a young woman in a bright evening dress floats in the air with her fur coat and handbag. Her head has been replaced by a delicate fan.

Another piece (above) captures a young woman in the park walking her dog, although the woman's head is absent. At the top of the picture is a parachute with a cartoon-like head. Either is the parachute carrying the head away or bringing the head to her.

These combinations allow the viewers to peer not only into the delicate nuance of the artist's girlish fantasy world, but also the inner world of Japanese women after the war, who were suddenly liberated from strict restrictions of society.

"Toshiko Okanoue is now in her 90s. She has only been creating for six years in her whole career and left 110 pieces," said Ji.

"It was not until the 1990s that the art world started to recognize her works. Now all these works are preserved in museums. On this occasion, we selected six collages and produced platinum and palladium prints."

A new exhibition at amanasalto Shanghai displays works by six Japanese female photographers and their perspectives on themes such as postwar, gender, nature, memories and physical existence. Photos: Courtesy of the venue

Yuriko Takagi

If Toshiko Okanoue's world is more like a wonderland full of fantasy, then Yuriko Takagi's world is more mysterious and vague, like a budding flower.

Born in 1951, Yuriko Takagi focuses her works on human existence, and looks to the movement of the human body.

In her recent series Sei (above), she uses budding plants to show an intimate side of nature that is not perceptible to our senses.

In Japanese, sei has 28 different meanings including "depression," "erotic," "star," "voice," "blue," "sex," "energy," "death," "betrayal," "peace of mind," and "purity."

The artist photographed 28 budding plants to convey each of these meanings.

"The 28 kanji characters pronounced sei, come with multiple meanings," said the artist.

"There are 28 plants whose true identities will never be revealed, whether their life is about to be formed or has already ceased. Words and photographs create their special resonance in a world full of mysteries."

Photographed in close-up and in black and white, the state of the buds varies, but all are in a state of incompleteness, sketching out a constellation of mysterious worlds.

Ji said that all the photos in this exhibition are platinum and palladium prints.

"It achieves the highest quality with rich tonality, deep black and high resolution. A piece of platinum print properly preserved can last more than 500 years," said Ji.

Date: Until December 19, 10 am to 7 pm (closed Sundays)

Venue: amanasalto Shanghai

Address: 3/F, East Block 1, 1029 Zhongshan Road South

中山南路1029号东楼1号楼3楼

Admission: Free

Call 3331-2277 for details



Posted in: Metro Shanghai, Culture

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