SHOJI UEDA

Born in 1913 in Sakaiminato in the Japanese prefecture of Tottori, whose sand dunes would serve as the site for his most famous images, Shoji Ueda picked up his first camera at the age of 15. While attending photography schools and clubs, he discovered the pictorialist Teiko Shiotani, who had a strong influence on him. This photographic movement, radically opposed to realism, already announced the style that Ueda would maintain and defend until the end of his life.

Indeed, after setting up his own studio in his hometown in 1932, he began his photographs staged in the dunes and thus developed his signature: carefully composed images, without any particular narrative, and already tending towards a surrealism reminiscent of Magritte. Unfortunately, although he did not take part in the world conflict of 1939-1945, it interrupted his artistic activity and above all announced the disinterest that would be suffered by any art moving away from realism during the post-war years.

However, with the publication of Warabe Goyomi (“Children the year around”) in 1971, a book with more realistic tones that still retained the dreamlike universe of its author, Shoij Ueda was able to bounce back and conquer a wider audience. His recognition grew to the point of being presented in Arles in 1978, from which point on he was regularly exhibited in Europe.

After his wife's death in 1983, he stopped taking photographs before his son encouraged him to resume his activity, which led him to take fashion photographs on the dunes of Tottori. After two surreal and even experimental color series, he died of a heart attack at the age of 83.

In addition to having persevered throughout his life to create a true imaginary world through photography, Shoji Ueda has also managed to raise it to the rank of classic. It has been integrated into numerous collections around the world, including those of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York (USA), the Centre Pompidou and the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), both in Paris (FR); the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo (MOMAT), (JP).

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Born in 1913 in Sakaiminato in the Japanese prefecture of Tottori, whose sand dunes would serve as the backdrop for his most famous images, Shoji Ueda got his first camera at the age of 15. While pursuing studies and joining photography clubs, he discovered the pictorialist Teiko Shiotani, who greatly influenced him. This photographic movement, radically opposed to realism, already foreshadowed the style that Ueda would maintain and defend throughout his life.

Indeed, after establishing his own studio in his hometown in 1932, he began staging photographs in the dunes, developing his signature style: meticulously composed images, void of any particular narrative, already leaning towards a surrealism reminding us of Magritte. Unfortunately, although he did not participate in the global conflict of 1939-1945, it interrupted his artistic activity and signaled the waning interest in any art departing from realism in the post-war years.

However, with the publication of "Warabe Goyomi" ("Children the Year Around") in 1971, a book with more realistic tones yet still retaining the dreamlike universe of its author, Shoji Ueda managed to bounce back and attract a wider audience. His recognition grew until he was featured in Arles in 1978, after which he was regularly exhibited in Europe.

After the death of his wife in 1983, he ceased photography until his son encouraged him to resume his activity, leading him to create fashion photographs on the dunes of Tottori. After two series of surrealist and even experimental color photographs, he passed away from a heart attack at the age of 83.

Beyond persevering throughout his life to create a true imaginary world through photography, Shoji Ueda also elevated it to the status of a classic. His works have been included in numerous collections worldwide, including those of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York (USA), the Center Pompidou, and the National Library of France (BNF), both in Paris (France), and the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo (MOMAT), Japan.