「Look at the Picture and Talk about the Painting」Ikko Narahara: The Image Revolution of the Rebels

Despite being criticized by his contemporaries for his unconventional techniques, he used “subjective documentary” to describe the new era of Japanese photography – Ikko Narahara. He was not only an innovator in post-war photography but also an explorer of “mental landscape”.

Fish-eye lenses, collage, long exposure and other “unconventional” techniques enabled him to anchor reality from his personal perspective. “The Land of Humanity” reflects the desolation and struggle of post-war Japanese society; “StationaryTime in Europe” uses European themes to reflect on its own cultural identity, with the serene images symbolizing the alienation from the foreign land; “The Kingdom” presents the struggle between individual freedom and confinement through strong contrasts, deepening his contemplation on the essence of existence step by step. He has always transformed landscapes into his own spiritual projection, gradually deepening his thoughts on the essence of existence.

“Photography is the lover of time. Death and photography, like prophets, enable us to understand love and life.” He broke the barrier between objectivity and subjectivity with “mental landscape”, making photography a medium for communicating with time. This persistent exploration reshaped the boundaries of Japanese photography.

The tea for today is all gone. Next time, I’ll brew a fresh pot and enjoy art with you again.