MICHIKO KON
Born in 1955 in Kanagawa Prefecture, Michiko Kon first studied painting and printmaking at an art school. It was only in the 1970s that she turned to photography to create collages. She then entered the Tokyo Photographic College where she stayed for two years, and in 1985 presented her first solo exhibition, “Nature morte”, at the Shinjuku Nikon Salon in Tokyo. She quickly became recognized as one of Japan’s most innovative photographers and won the prestigious Kimura Ihee Prize in 1991. The following year, Michiko presented her first exhibition in the United States at the List Visual Center at MIT. She was also exhibited in the exhibition “History of Japanese Photography”, curated by Anne Tucker at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston in 2003. And since 1990, she has exhibited regularly at the Photo Gallery International in Tokyo.
Deeply influenced by surrealism, Michiko Kon transcends the traditional boundaries of the photographic medium. At first glance, her compositions seem to capture everyday objects: a toothbrush placed in a glass, an elegant high-heeled shoe, a haute couture coat, etc. However, a closer look reveals a strangely transformed universe: salmon eggs adorn the bristles of the toothbrush while a goldfish swims quietly in the glass; the shoe is made with salmon skin and flounder fins…
Michiko Kon's works charm with their aesthetic beauty, while disturbing with their audacity. They leave an indisputable mark on the memory of those who discover them for the first time.
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Born in 1955 in Kanagawa prefecture, Michiko Kon initially studied painting and engraving at art school. It wasn't until the 1970s that she turned to photography to create collages. She then entered the Tokyo Photographic College, where she stayed for two years, and in 1985 she presented her first solo exhibition, 'Still Life', at the Shinjuku Nikon Salon in Tokyo. She quickly gained recognition as one of Japan's most innovative photographers, winning the prestigious Kimura Ihee prize in 1991. The following year, Michiko had her first exhibition in the United States at MIT's List Visual Center. She also took part in the 'History of Japanese Photography' exhibition organized by Anne Tucker at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston in 2003. And since 1990, she has exhibited regularly at the Photo Gallery International in Tokyo.
Deeply influenced by surrealism, Michiko Kon transcends the traditional boundaries of photography. At first look, her compositions seem to capture everyday objects: a toothbrush in a glass, an elegant high-heeled shoe, a couture coat.... However, a closer look reveals a strange transformed universe: salmon eggs cover the toothbrush, while a goldfish moves quietly in the glass; the shoe is made from salmon skin and plaice fin…
Michiko Kon's works are both charming in their aesthetic beauty and disturbing in their boldness. They leave an undeniable mark on the memory of those who discover her work for the first time.