Japan / A Love Story celebrates half a century of work by the renowned British-American photographer Michael Kenna, and his enduring relationship with Japan. His in-depth explorations and imagery of Japan since 1987 stand out as perhaps his most distinguished and well-known works.
An exceptional exhibition ‘comprised of one hundred prints, all personally printed by Michael Kenna includes both his earliest and most recent images taken in Japan. The exhibition arrives in London this September, after its launch in Tokyo, and U.S. debut in Los Angeles in 2024.
Michael Kenna’s mysterious photographs, often made at dawn or in the dark hours of night, concentrate primarily on the interaction between the natural landscape and human-made structures. Kenna is both a diurnal and nocturnal photographer, fascinated by times of day when light is at its most pliant. With long time exposures, which might last throughout the night, his photographs often record details that the human eye is not able to perceive.
Kenna is particularly well-known for the intimate scale of his photography and his meticulous personal printing style. He works in the traditional, non-digital, silver photographic medium. His exquisitely hand crafted black and white prints reflect a sense of refinement, respect for history, and thorough originality.
“On my first visit to Japan, I was blown away by the aesthetics, the spiritual and religious aspects, the curiosity of the people, their friendliness and generosity. Later, I went up to Northern Hokkaido in the middle of winter, and it looked to me like a stark sumi-e ink painting, a white canvas with Kanji characters marked on it. I’ve been in love with the place ever since.” —Michael Kenna
Michael Kenna : Japan / A Love Story
September 25 – October 20, 2024
Asia House
63 New Cavendish Street
London WIG7LP
www.peterfetterman/japanalovestory
