Rinko Kawauchi’s first major UK exhibition since 2006 centres around the series M/E – letters which stand for both ‘Mother’ and ‘Earth’ and ‘Me’ – moving between explorations of the natural world’s fragile beauty to the gentle rhythm of domestic scenes, capturing the connections and continuity of life on this ‘planet we call home’.
M/E began in 2019 and draws from images of Icelandic volcanoes and ice floes, Hokkaido’s snowy landscapes, and everyday home life from the COVID pandemic, inviting viewers to reconsider our connections as humans with nature.
At the edge of the everyday world highlights the small, personal movements within our lives that go on to create larger, universal journeys, featuring photographic prints and film installations from M/E (Mother Earth), Illuminance and earlier series such as Ametsuchi and AILA, whilst also showcasing Kawauchi’s 30+ photobook publications, exploring her career through words and imagery.
At the edge of the everyday world includes a showcase of photobooks spanning Kawauchi’s 30+ titles exploring her career through words and imagery. Grounded in themes of care, identity and sustainability, Kawauchi’s lyrical work inspires audiences to rethink humanity’s fragile links to the universe and ecology.
The exhibition is accompanied by a new publication, including newly commissioned texts and images of exhibited works drawn from M/E, Aila, Ametsuchi and Illuminance. At the edge of the everyday world is presented in collaboration with the Bristol Photo Festival, an international biennial of contemporary photography, staged across the city’s museums, galleries and independent spaces, and supported by The Japan Foundation.
Rinko Kawauchi was born in Shiga, Japan, in 1972; lives and works in Chiba, Japan.
Rinko Kawauchi : At the edge of the everyday world
Until February 16, 2025
Arnolfini – Bristol’s International Centre for Contemporary Arts
6 Narrow Quay
Bristol BS1 4QA, United Kingdom
https://arnolfini.org.uk/
