Lee Friedlander: Cherry Blossom Viewing (Part 1)
30th Exhibition: Lee Friedlander's "Cherry Blossom Hunt"
"Cherry Blossom Hunt -Cherry Blossom Time in Japan-" (Part 1)
RAT HOLE GALLERY is currently hosting Lee Friedlander's "Cherry Blossom Hunt -Cherry Blossom Time in Japan-" exhibition, running until Sunday, June 1st.
This marks the second solo exhibition by Lee, following one last spring. This time, as the title suggests, it's the world's first exhibition to exclusively feature works capturing "cherry blossoms." Furthermore, Lee himself visited Japan for the opening of this solo show, allowing for some fascinating encounters. Over the next three installments of this series, "Rat Hole," I aim to discuss the highlights of this exhibition and my personal perspective on Lee Friedlander.
Nobuhiko Kitamura / HYSTERIC GLAMOURPhoto by Jamandfixedit by TAKEUCHI Toranosuke(City Writes)
His photographs first strike me as the atmosphere of the streets, captured by an urbanite.
LEE FRIEDLANDER "Self Portrait" (2005/MoMA N.Y.) ¥5,880
I first encountered Lee's photography over 15 years ago. It was around the time I was personally inspired by the Beat Generation, including Jack Kerouac's "On the Road," and I remember feeling a similar atmosphere in his work. It was, perhaps, the gaze of an urban dweller encountering the street. Whatever he photographed, there was an urban sensibility and intelligence, giving the impression of a landscape meticulously dissected by such an individual.
For instance, his photo book "Letters from People," which exclusively collects typographic subjects like signs, numbers, and messages. Essentially, it's a re-rendering of established fonts, yet it exudes a sense of solitude, like wandering alone in a wilderness, enveloped by urban intelligence – a kind of "on the road" feeling. Similarly, his famous portrait series and other works shot in urban settings evoke a comparable sentiment.
If doing it, then during cherry blossom season, with "cherry blossoms" as the theme.
For his previous exhibition, the intention was to first introduce his representative works. Lee himself was supposed to attend the opening, but due to unforeseen circumstances, he couldn't make it to Japan. This led to the idea of holding another exhibition, resulting in this second solo show.
LEE FRIEDLANDER "CHERRY BLOSSOM TIME IN JAPAN THE
COMPLETE WORKS" (2006/FRAENKEL GALLERY) ¥9,030
As some may know, he was captivated by Japan's cherry blossoms when he first visited in 1977 and subsequently returned many times to photograph them. Therefore, the idea was to hold an exhibition themed around cherry blossoms during the season itself, leading to this display. In essence, for him, cherry blossoms are one of the reasons for visiting Japan. While his cherry blossom works had been presented individually before, there had never been an exhibition solely dedicated to them. Thus, this is the first time worldwide that Lee Friedlander's cherry blossom photography is showcased in this manner. This was a proposal from the Japanese side, and Lee was very pleased with it. It's a new endeavor for him, and cherry blossoms remain a theme he continues to pursue.
Lee Friedlander Photography Exhibition "Cherry Blossom Hunt -Cherry Blossom Time in Japan-"
Dates | On display until Sunday, June 1st
Hours | 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Closed Mondays)
Venue | RAT HOLE GALLERY
5-5-3 Minamiaoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
HYSTERIC GLAMOUR Aoyama Store B1F
Tel | 03-6419-3581