"Yoko got Chiro when he was four months old, from her grandmother in Kasukabe."
— Nobuyoshi Araki, "My Beloved Chiro" (1990)

Chiro, who had served as Araki's muse for 22 long years, passed away on March 2, 2010. He lived a full life, reaching the equivalent of 105 human years. Araki, who spoke of Chiro as "no woman ever loved me like that," found in him an irreplaceable companion who supported him after the early death of his wife, Yoko. Twenty years after Yoko's passing, facing the grief of losing another loved one, Araki conveys through his photographs that the everyday flow between life and death is a "journey called life."



For this exhibition, Araki presents 80 photographs taken during Chiro's final months. Chiro walking on the balcony, Chiro lying on the bed, Chiro gazing intently at the camera. Despite being captured through Araki's lens, the Chiro in the photographs feels as if he is right there, within reach. His meows, his affection, his loneliness... The expressive Chiro and the surrounding scenery unfold like a love story, conveying Araki's deep affection. The images of the sky and flowers after Chiro's departure resonate like a profoundly tender and poignant melody.



To accompany this exhibition, RAT HOLE GALLERY will publish the photobook "Sentimental Journey, Spring Journey." Nearly 20 years have passed since "Sentimental Journey, Winter Journey" (1991), which depicted his final moments with Yoko. Now, Araki has created a photobook chronicling his final moments with his beloved cat, Chiro. For Araki, who states that "a photobook is a coffin," this publication holds special significance. "Sentimental Journey, Spring Journey" marks both the end of Chiro's journey and perhaps its beginning. Chiro, who always presented his best expressions as Araki's model until his final moments in this world, was perhaps Araki's sole muse.

Nobuyoshi Araki Exhibition: "Sentimental Journey, Spring Journey"

Dates: Friday, June 11 – Sunday, July 18
Venue: RAT HOLE GALLERY
5-5-3 Minamiaoyama, B1, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-6419-3581
www.ratholegallery.com