From "LOOK AT ME." © Boris Mikhailov

At First, His Direction Was Hard to Grasp

Starting with this installment, I'd like to discuss Boris Mikhailov, whose work is currently on display at RAT HOLE GALLERY, following my recent conversation with Mr. Araki.

He is a photographer from Ukraine who has been creating highly avant-garde works since the Soviet era, and is now active primarily in Berlin. I first encountered Mr. Mikhailov's work shortly after RAT HOLE GALLERY opened, around last autumn. My initial impression was that he seemed 'edgy and intellectual.'

The first pieces I saw were from "LOOK AT ME," which is currently being exhibited at RAT HOLE. I found them interesting and sophisticated, with their use of collage and other techniques that went beyond traditional photography. However, as I went on to see his earlier works and a solo exhibition that was coincidentally being held at SHUGO ARTS at the time, I must admit I found his direction difficult to pin down. Even within his techniques, he explores such a wide range of approaches.

From a poster. © Boris Mikhailov

For Mikhailov, Photography Isn't the Final Medium

It was the conversation between Mr. Araki and Mr. Mikhailov, which we introduced in the previous issue of OPENERS, that finally brought these seemingly disparate impressions together into a cohesive whole.

At that time, as I listened to him explain his own work, I realized, 'Perhaps photography isn't his ultimate medium.' In other words, for him, photography and cameras are simply tools for expression. I found it fascinating that a photographer with such a stance was active in Russia during the Soviet era. It's likely something unimaginable for those who haven't experienced it. Yet, he targets these very people, completely unfamiliar with his context, and transforms the absurdities of Russia (and the Soviet Union) into works of art with a sense of humor. To achieve that level of genius is, I believe, incredibly difficult despite appearing effortless.

The recent conversation allowed me to discover a unifying thread within his works, which initially seemed to diverge in direction. However, I was honestly concerned about how the general public, unfamiliar with his artistic vision, would perceive his work at the RAT HOLE GALLERY exhibition. To my surprise, many attendees, particularly women, seemed to recognize the unique appeal of his art. They would look at the pieces, read the accompanying descriptions, and then look back at the works, as if they were discovering the essence of his art for themselves.


Boris Mikhailov Photo Exhibition "LOOK AT ME"
Dates: Through Sunday, February 25, 2007
Hours: 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Closed Mondays)
Venue: RAT HOLE GALLERY
B1F, HYSTERIC GLAMOUR Aoyama Bldg., 5-5-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku
TEL: 03-6419-3581

Boris Mikhailov was born in 1938 in Kharkiv, a major industrial city in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (currently residing in Berlin). He began taking photographs at the age of 28, working as an electrician for the railway company. He later lost his job for photographing nudes, which was taboo under the oppressive socialist regime, and became an independent photographer. Through his energetic activities, he established his reputation as a significant artist. Under the Soviet regime, where free artistic expression was restricted, he created numerous works satirizing the system and capturing intensely personal scenes. His fierce yet warm gaze, seeking truth born from an unyielding spirit, first gained recognition in Europe and then worldwide. In the 1990s, his radical and humorous style garnered increasing acclaim through solo exhibitions at museums in major cities and the publication of his photo collections. He received the Hasselblad Award in 2000, further expanding his artistic reach. He first visited Japan in 1998 and has been featured in exhibitions such as "Double Exhibition with Nobuyoshi Araki = Winter Love =" (Shugoarts/1999) and "Intersecting Currents - MoMA Contemporary Art Collection" (Hara Museum of Contemporary Art).

RAT HOLE GALLERY: http://www.ratholegallery.com
HYSTERIC GLAMOUR Official: http://www.hystericglamour.jp
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