To mark the opening of its new space, IRIS ARLES presents the exhibition “Family of lies” by Japanese photographer Hajime Kimura.
Kimura is known for his works that create a striking contrast between powerful
black-and-white images and blurry images that seem to emerge from memory, which he has produced in multiple series such as this one in view, “Matagi” about the Japanese hunters, “Track ” about the racehorses or “Snowflakes Dog Man” about the reflection on his late father.
Since childhood, he has harbored complex feelings toward his family. He came to construct a false image of them and tell stories blending reality and fiction. After his parents’ death, he would even speak to others as if they were still alive.
At the same time, however, he addresses his own family (particularly his parents, who died when he was still young) and his family memories as themes in his work.
Why, even though he considers his family a “source of shame,” is he at the same time deeply drawn to them and their history? Can he bring everything out into the open and put an end to these accumulating lies?
Kimura gave birth to this introspection and determination in the form of the “Family of lies” series.
This exhibition features landscapes photographed during revisits to the sites of his family trips, as well as small details from his home, alongside images from family albums that Kimura has reworked.
The memories of a particular family, the clothes and bodies that remain etched in the images, provide us with small clues that spark our imagination about them.
In other words, his images, without being tied to a collective memory or a broader
historical context, remain confined to the personal sphere, thus creating an autobiographical space.
Furthermore, this exhibition features numerous works using images transposed onto mirrors or mirror paper; the viewer’s silhouette, or that of the artist himself, is reflected in the works, adding an extra layer of depth to the relationship between the real image and the virtual image.
Regarding these series on his family, Kimura explains that for him it is to rehabilitate himself and accept, through the prism of family, the fact that his parents have passed away.
“Family of lies” invites you to discover his world, which depicts a family’s conflicts, as well as its reconstruction and rebirth.
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IRIS Arles
12 rue Diderot, 13200 Arles, France
July 04, 2026 to August 16, 2026
