The Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF) in Paris has launched a major exhibition dedicated to Japanese photography, showcasing the nation's unique relationship with the medium. The institution, which began collecting Japanese images as early as the late 1960s, presents an exceptional selection of 250 prints spanning from the post-war period to the present day.
The exhibition features approximately 300 works in total, including numerous rare books that highlight how photography in Japan developed primarily within the realm of print rather than on gallery walls. The display explores a wide thematic range, moving from the trauma of nuclear events to the principles of Zen minimalism.
Among the featured pieces is "Familiar Street Scenes 3" by Shigeo Gocho, created around 1978-1979. Another highlighted work comes from artist Ryuji Taira, who captured two dandelions using platinum-palladium printing on handmade paper. This technique is considered the most durable method for prints, allowing the simple motif to be preserved as a lasting jewel. The exhibition demonstrates that focusing on a specific national scene can yield brilliant results, revealing an archipelago that was closed to the West when photography emerged two centuries ago but has since cultivated a singular approach to the art form.
Sources: Le Monde Culture.