This exhibition tries to spark a visual discourse between two major urban areas and societies. “Tokyo Meets Berlin” is also a meeting of two photographers, whose bodies of work are deeply connected with one another in the way they look at their personal habitats but also in their strong interest in human beings. Both photographers not only resonate with each other in the subtle features of their work, but display an inspiring cultural dialogue which will reward you with a profound experience.
Toru Ukai is a master in creating Zen-like moments, almost feeling like they are subconsciously conceived. His images often show an urban scene that has come to a sudden stop. He says: “A photo could perceive something hidden in our daily lives flowing continuously. Photography is a secret ceremony going back and forth between “the visible” and “the invisible”. His pictures are less invitations for interpretation but more for meditation. This is also your first chance to see a concise body of work of the Japanese photographer in Germany.
Markus Lehr captures the interaction between places, artifacts and traces of human interference in urban areas. The mood, the light and the textures of his images create a unique sense of space, making his work densely atmospheric, even dramatic at times.
He says: “There was a time in my life when I worked in a theatre. And that moment after everybody has left the theatre and the stage was empty and quiet, that was always the most precious one for me. The show was over, the light was still directed on the stage, but nobody was watching it anymore. What I am looking for in my work is just like that.” His lush orchestrations of the urban landscape show a world mostly without people but with omnipresent human traces. He will present a new selection of his works in close relationship to Toru’s offerings.
Toru Ukai
Toru Ukai studied Japanese literature at the University of Tokyo and worked for editing and marketing in a publishing company. During the days, he won a prize in the 7th “New Cosmos of Photography”. Since becoming a freelance, he has been engaging in photography and writing. He has held and taken part in some exhibitions and festivals in Europe, China and Japan. His work often appears in magazines, booklets, etc. and he published his photo books at a French publisher in 2017. Toru lives and works in Tokyo. http://toru-ukai.com
Markus Lehr
Markus Lehr studied communication at the University of Arts in Berlin and has been working in the field of marketing and new media ever since. Several notable international publications have featured his work and he published a first photography book in December 2013 and some more in 2017 and 2018. He has also showcased his work at solo and group exhibitions in Berlin, Munich, Paris and Wolverhampton. Markus lives and works in Berlin. www.markuslehr.com
La Camera Chiara
Pestalozzistr. 13, 10625 Berlin
Period: Sep. 7th to Oct. 19th
Opening hours: Tue. – Fri. 12:00 – 18:00／Sat. 10:00 – 15:00
Admission: Free
Vernissage: Friday, Sep. 6th, 19:00
Information
La Camera Chiara
Pestalozzistr. 13, 10625 Berlin, Germany
September 07, 2019 to October 19, 2019
