Hundreds of Photography Requests Poured In Overnight

Aspiring photojournalist Irina Werning began her photo project "Back to the Future" in 2010, with the concept of recreating old photographs. She uploaded the works to her website, and her innovative creations instantly went viral on social media. Hundreds of photography requests flooded in daily, drawing global attention. To date, she has traveled to 28 countries, photographing over 280 individuals.


Werning visits her subjects' homes, converses with them, and, while sensing their essence, selects the past photograph to recreate. With meticulous attention to detail, she faithfully reproduces the original composition, background, lighting, and attire, based on the historical image.

By displaying the two photographs side-by-side, the stories of these individuals come to life. The exhibition expresses the power of change and the resilience of constancy, showcasing the subjects' wonderful lives and allowing viewers to experience the evolution of their respective countries alongside the passage of time.


The exhibition features 88 works from 24 countries, divided into five rooms by era. A valuable documentary detailing the creation process of "Back to the Future" by Werning will also be screened. Additionally, a special room will showcase a recreation of a work presented in 2012 as part of a special project for the 20th anniversary of Disneyland Paris.

"IRINA WERNING: Portraits of an Era"

Dates: January 8 (Wednesday) – January 26 (Sunday)

Hours: 10:00–21:00 (Last admission 30 minutes before closing) *Sundays and holidays until 20:00; closes at 18:00 on the final day, January 26 (Sunday)

Venue: Seibu Shibuya, Building A, 7th Floor, Exhibition Hall

21-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Tel. 03-3462-0111 (Main Switchboard)

http://andf.jp/irina-werning