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Nobuyoshi ARAKI: THE SKY 2, my Ender
Events
Written by KALONSNET Editor   
Published: November 02 2009

“2THESKY my Ender” (2009); sumi Ink on B & W photograph, 50.8 x 60cm, courtesy Shinchosha and Taka Ishii Gallery

“Why „2THESKY‟ ? „To‟ or [the Japanese character] „ニ‟ are not correct. It must be „2‟. As I have said before - photographs are an imitation of reality and life, the counterfeit of reality, not creation. Therefore, a photograph is a secondary thing. I do everything with a spiritual feeling. I wrote something into the sky, because I had the feeling that I would like to create „another sky that is mine‟. This makes me think about death and life. If one becomes heavier, the other one becomes heavier too. With the premonition of death comes the desire for life, the lust to live. This book is my „posthumous work‟, but maybe it is not finished yet, maybe from now on life is going to begin. I am crossing the rainbow bridge, ah! I am falling…..”
- Nobuyoshi Araki, October 2010

Since January 2, 2009, Araki has depicted in a kind of diaristic mode his response to everyday events and thoughts of death, using as a canvas black and white photographs coupled with the technique of calligraphy, painting and collage. Araki produced an enormous number of works for this publication and produced even further works for the solo exhibition. He completed about 150 new works that are not included in the book. In addition to the publication, which will be installed prominently as part of the installation, the screening of Arakinema is also planned during the exhibition. Nobuyoshi Araki describes this new body of work as “the testament of a photographer who presentiments death”. * The text provided by Taka Ishii Gallery.

Last Updated on December 19 2009
 

Editor's Note by Satoshi KOGANEZAWA


There is a special sound in the words "Posthumous work" and "Last writing". If the work is the last one through life, the interest is extremely attracted to show the artist's attainment. However, the "Posthumous work" and "Last writing" from the beginning would not be what the artist intends to produce as such. Therefore, it has the artist’s thought and feelings wholeheartedly, though it is the interesting point to see the works if an imprudent thing is said. Then, how about the case when voluntarily declaring it is his/her "Posthumous work" though the person is still alive? It is difficult to say as the wise judgment though our interest is evoked. However, it is this photographer, Nobuyoshi Araki who accomplishes it. The solo exhibition “2 THESKY, my Ender” is composed with the photographs by Araki who was risked by the prostatic carcinoma in 2008, and considered dying. The works are exhibited to one wall in the hall, including a monochrome photograph of the sky, a vivid color painting, a collage of newspaper and photographs, and a dynamic calligraphy. "Death" surely exists there if a photograph is the one to cut out time and the space to begin with. It is also mysterious to consider "Death" as he renews since Araki has kept taking photographs long, and published hundreds of photograph collections. However, it seemed like strong consideration to the life and the sex that gushed there rather than the death in this exhibition.


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