Nobuyoshi Araki was born in Tokyo in 1940. He is one of the most famous Japanese photographers today, made famous by his female nudes roped according to the art of kinbaku (Japanese bondage).
His work is not limited to these sulphurous photographs, however. The photographer almost never lets go of his camera on a daily basis – as the photographer Sakiko Nomura, the only disciple the master ever had, testifies – he would take his camera to the toilets so as not to miss anything. For Araki, photography seems to be part of life, just like breathing or eating.
A prolific artist, the photographer draws his inspiration from his city, his Tokyo neighborhood, his wife Yoko, his models, his meals, flowers, skies and many small objects that he almost always associates with fantasies, creating images filled with eroticism and desire, which transcribe impulses of life and death in a sentimentality that is always assumed.
All of these images are published in the form of over 500 photographic books. Nobuyoshi Araki is one of the most published photographers in the world.
Shortly after his 70th birthday, the photographer renamed himself “Sha-Kyo-Rojin A” (The Old Madman of Photography A). This nickname, inspired by the ukiyo-e print artist Katsushika Hokusai who called himself “The Old Madman of Drawing,” reflects his acceptance of his old age and his desire to continue devoting his energy to photography.
In recent years, Nobuyoshi Araki has often addressed the notion of “Paradise”.
“Photography is the other world. That is, paradise. Right now, when I look through the lens, everything seems like paradise,” he tells us.
After his wife died in 1990, he created what he called his Desert Paradise on his balcony, where he placed objects and flowers which he let fade.
“The sky never tires me and I love watching flowers fade and disappear. I tend to want to take them forever, but if I continue too much, I am afraid of reaching another state of consciousness, so I am careful.” “Photographing, getting married, living, is ultimately taking an eternal sentimental journey.”
In September, for a colorful start to the school year, we will present a non-exhaustive retrospective of Nobuyoshi Araki's work with Polaroids taken between the early 2000s and recent months, drawings and nearly 150 photographic books. Prints from his latest series, “The Delon Elephant,” will also be presented. Delon is a creation of Araki that dates back to the late 60s and early 70s. He amused himself by making drawings and created creatures with names that were all more original than the others, including Doutei Dacho-kun, the virgin ostrich Doutei, Kintaman the balls-man, and the famous Delon elephant with three suggestive trunks. The latter will remain one of Araki's favorites, and after almost 50 years, in 2019, he finally brought Delon to life in the form of a ceramic statuette, which became the main subject of this new series.
Through this retrospective, we wish to share Araki's creative energy and show the evolution of a photographer with a prolific career and constantly renewed inventiveness over more than 60 years.
Dates: 06.09.2019 – 21.09.2019
Place: Gallery &CO119
119 rue Vieille du Temple 75003 Paris