Approximately 169 Prints on Display

Michael Kenna is known as one of the world's foremost landscape photographers. The exhibition "Michael Kenna: A 45 Year Odyssey 1973-2018" brings together his representative works and pieces never before shown in Japan, captured over his 45-year career.

His artistic sensibility, characterized by a unique aesthetic and distinctive compositions, is highly acclaimed worldwide. He captures the mystery of ever-changing nature and reverence for diverse cultures, often employing long exposures to imbue his photographs with depth.

His prints, imbued with serenity and lyricism, are held in the collections of prestigious institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, as well as numerous other museums globally.

Among the works exhibited are photographs taken in Japan, a country he holds dear. Beyond his depictions of natural beauty, Kenna also addresses significant social themes, including nuclear power and decaying industrial landscapes.

Over approximately 12 years, beginning in 1989, he undertook a project photographing 28 former Nazi concentration camp sites. He donated the 300 prints and negatives to the French government and received the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. This series, "Impossible to Forget," will be exhibited in Japan for the first time.

Furthermore, a new series exploring the human form, captured over the past decade in old Japanese houses, will have its Japanese premiere here, following its world debut in Paris in November of this year. These previously unreleased nude works represent a new direction for the artist.

On the opening day, December 1st (Saturday), Michael Kenna will give a lecture. His insights into the pursuit of monochrome beauty are eagerly anticipated.

Michael Kenna
Born in Lancashire, Northwest England, in 1953. After studying photography at the London College of Printing, he moved to San Francisco to pursue his career as a photographer. He currently resides in Seattle. His work is characterized by traditional, straightforward techniques and compositions, with an exceptional print quality driven by his unique aesthetic vision. The subtle rendering of light and atmosphere in his style often evokes otherworldly realms, creating works filled with classical, romantic lyricism that have earned him high praise from art professionals worldwide.

Michael Kenna: A 45 Year Odyssey 1973-2018
Dates | Saturday, December 1, 2018 – Sunday, January 27, 2019
Venue | Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, B1F Exhibition Hall
1-13-3 Mita, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, within Yebisu Garden Place
Opening Hours | 10:00–18:00 (Thursdays and Fridays until 20:00); Closed Mondays (except Monday, January 24th, a public holiday). Closed December 25th (Tuesday) and January 15th (Tuesday).
New Year Holidays: Closed December 29th (Saturday) – January 1st (Tuesday, holiday). Open 11:00–18:00 on January 2nd (Wednesday) and 3rd (Thursday). Open 10:00–18:00 on December 28th (Friday) and January 4th (Friday).
Admission Fees | [General] ¥1000 (Group ¥800); [Students] ¥800 (Group ¥640); [Junior High/High School Students & Seniors 65+] ¥600 (Group ¥480). ( ) indicates rates for groups of 20 or more. Free for elementary school students, junior high school students residing or studying in Tokyo, individuals with disabilities and one caregiver. Free for seniors 65+ on the third Wednesday of the month.

Lecture
Date | Saturday, December 1, 2018
Time | Doors Open 14:00 | Start 14:30
Venue | Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, 1F Hall
Participation Fee | ¥500
Capacity | 190 people