ART | Kenji Hirasawa's First Solo Exhibition in Japan, 'Portraits,' Featuring the London-Based Photographer

ART│Portraits Captured with a Thermographic Camera

Kenji Hirasawa, a Photographer Active in London, Holds His First Exhibition in Japan: 'Portraits'

Kenji Hirasawa, a photographer based in London, will hold his first exhibition in Japan, titled 'Portraits,' from Saturday, May 25th to Thursday, June 13th, at B GALLERY on the 6th floor of BEAMS JAPAN in Shinjuku. The exhibition will feature portrait works shot with a thermographic camera, which is characteristic of Hirasawa's art.

Text by YANAKA Tomomi

T-shirts Featuring His Work Released by "BEAMS T"

Born in Tokyo in 1982, Kenji Hirasawa is currently based in London. Through his photography, he continuously explores profound themes such as humanity, life, and love. Since 2003, he has been creating portrait works captured with a thermographic camera. Gaining significant attention, including solo exhibitions in London and features on the covers of photography magazines like 'PHOTOWORKS' and 'GUP,' his first exhibition in Japan is now set to open.

The exhibition will display and sell portraits where the subject's form is defined by heat distribution, captured with a thermographic camera—revealing a world invisible to the naked eye and beyond the capabilities of conventional cameras. Additionally, a T-shirt collection featuring his artwork will be released by "BEAMS T" to coincide with this exhibition.

An artist talk will be held on Friday, June 7th, starting at 6:00 PM, and a photography book titled 'Portraits,' sharing the same title as the exhibition, will also be published.

Hirasawa states, "I have long contemplated, 'What is life?' There are scientific and philosophical understandings, and various explanations are possible. But there is something I have known long before I could put it into words: 'Life is beautiful.' I call my portrait works 'portraits of life.'" His exhibition promises an encounter with a new photographic world, allowing viewers to feel the warmth and beauty of life, brimming with energy.

Kenji Hirasawa Photography Exhibition 'Portraits'
Period│Saturday, May 25th – Thursday, June 13th
Hours│11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Venue│B GALLERY
3-32-6 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, BEAMS JAPAN 6F
Tel. 03-5368-7309

Artist Talk
Date│Friday, June 7th
Time│6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Venue│B GALLERY
Guest│Taka Kawachi (Chief Director, Amanaphotocollection)
Atsushi Hamanaka (Representative, twelvebooks)
Capacity│Advance reservation required; first 30 people