ART | 'The Aesthetics of Photography - Five Elements' Exhibition at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum
ART | Exploring the Beauty of Photography Through "Light," "Reflection," "Surface," "Loss," and "Reference"
Tokyo Photographic Art Museum Hosts "Aesthetic of Photography - Five Elements" Exhibition
Selected from its collection along elemental lines, the exhibition "Aesthetic of Photography - Five Elements," which explores the beauty of photography, is on view until Sunday, July 7, at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum in Ebisu.
Text by YANAKA Tomomi
Focusing on the myriad expressions of beauty, savoring their presence, and appreciating their charm
The Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, which has set a theme annually, has this year chosen "Aesthetic of Photography" as its focus. The academic discipline "Aesthetica," proposed by an 18th-century German philosopher to mean "the study of sensibility," was introduced to modern Japan and translated as "aesthetics." Beyond its currently common meaning of enhancing physical beauty, "aesthetic" also refers to the art of cultivating the sensibility that perceives beauty.
This exhibition, with the keyword "Where does the beauty of photography lie?", draws from the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum's rich collection of over 29,000 works, using "light," "reflection," "surface," "loss," and "reference" as guiding elements to showcase a wide range of photography from the early 19th century to the present day. As you trace the works, you can turn your attention to the myriad expressions of beauty, savor their presence, and appreciate their charm.
The exhibition features Yokohama photographs from the exotic Meiji era, which captivated foreigners by applying color to the surface of monochrome prints, and "Requiem for the Nonexistent" by Yasumasa Morimura, known for his photographic self-portraits embodying real figures, where he is depicted as Picasso. Visitors can engage with the works that the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum proudly holds.
The "Aesthetic of Photography - Five Elements" exhibition allows visitors to feel the rich breadth of "beauty" that photography possesses. The aesthetic of photography will likely open a new channel of sensibility within your heart.
Aesthetic of Photography - Five Elements
Period: Saturday, May 11 – Sunday, July 7 (Closed Mondays)
Hours: 10:00 – 18:00 (Thursdays and Fridays until 20:00)
Venue: Tokyo Photographic Art Museum
1-13-3 Mita, Meguro-ku, Tokyo (Within Yebisu Garden Place)
Tel. 03-3280-0099
Admission: General ¥500, Students ¥400, Junior/Senior High School Students & Seniors (65+) ¥250