October 23, 2015

For a New World to Come: Experiments in Japanese Art and Photography, 1968-1979 at Japan Society Gallery through January 10, 2016 and at New York University’s Grey Art Gallery through December 5, 2015

“In 1968, amid an economic boom, many in Japan registered widespread discontent over social inequalities. At the same time, the country was roiled by protests against the Vietnam War and the upcoming renewal of a treaty extending American occupation. These circumstances mark the point of departure for For a New World to Come: Experiments in Japanese Art and Photography, 1968–1979, the first comprehensive exhibition to focus upon a critical moment when Japanese artists and photographers, sensing that their traditional practices were no longer valid, began experimenting with the possibilities of camera-based practices, laying the foundations for contemporary art in Japan.” — Japan Society

Araki_Sentimental Journey 1

Nobuyoshi Araki (b. 1940), Sentimental Journey, 1971. Artist’s book, 11 x 5 in. Hirsch Library, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Manfred Heiting Photo Book Collection. © Nobuyoshi Araki

Araki_Sentimental Journey 2

Nobuyoshi Araki (b. 1940), Sentimental Journey, 1971. Artist’s book, 11 x 5 in. Hirsch Library, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Manfred Heiting Photo Book Collection. © Nobuyoshi Araki

Enokura_PW No 51

Koji Enokura (1942-1995), P.W. No. 51, Symptom – Floor, Hand, 1974. Gelatin silver print, 9 7/8 x 8 in. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Museum purchase funded by the Caroline Wiess Law Accessions Endownment Fund, 2014.685. © Michiyo Enokura / Photo: Paul Hester, Hester + Hardaway Photography

Enokura_Two Stains

Koji Enokura (1942-1995), Two Stains, 1972. Silkscreen on cloth, 56 5/16 x 68 1/2 in. M+, Hong Kong. © Koji Enokura

Gocho_Familiar Street Scenes

Shigeo Gochō (1946-1983), from the series Familiar Street Scenes, 1978-1980, from an edition of 10, printed 2014. Chromogenic print, 17 7/8 x 21 13/16 in. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Museum purchase funded by Joan Morganstern, 2014.687. © Hiroichi Gochō

Gocho_Self and Others

Shigeo Gochō (1946-1983), from the series Self and Others, 1975-1977, printed 1992. Gelatin silver print, 7 15/16 x 10 in. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Museum purchase funded by the Meyer Levy Charitable Foundation, 2014.689. © Hiroichi Gochō

Heshiki_Lungs of a Goat

Heshiki Kenshichi (1948-2009), from Lungs of a Goat, 1971-1972, printed 2005. Gelatin silver print, 19 15/15 x 14 in. Estate of Heshiki Kenshichi care of the Taka Ishii Gallery. © Heshikiken7

Ishiuchi_Apartment_1 of 2

Miyako Ishiuchi (b. 1947), From the series Apartment, 1977-1978, printed 1978. Gelatin silver print, 30 x 24 3/4 x 7/8 in. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Museum purchase funded by the Caroline Wiess Law Acessions Endowment Fund, 2014.707. © Miyako Ishiuchi / Photo: Paul Hester, Hester + Hardaway Photography

Kawaguchi_Land and Sea_1 of 2

Tatsuo Kawaguchi (b. 1940), from Land and Sea, 1970. Gelatin silver print, 12 x 19 in. Kawaguchi Tatsuo courtesy of the Yokota Shigeru Gallery. © Tatsuo Kawaguchi

Kawaguchi_Land and Sea_2 of 2

Tatsuo Kawaguchi (b. 1940), from Land and Sea, 1970. Gelatin silver print, 12 x 19 in. Kawaguchi Tatsuo courtesy of the Yokota Shigeru Gallery. © Tatsuo Kawaguchi

Kinoshita_79-38-A

Kazuyo Kinoshita, 79-38-A, 1979. Acrylic on photograph, 20 1/5 x 28 3/8 in. National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. © Kazuyo Kinoshita

Matsumoto_For the Damaged Right Eye

Toshio Matsumoto (b. 1932), For the Damaged Right Eye, 1968. Triple 16mm film (transferred to DVD), color, 12 min. 9 sec. Matsumoto Toshio. © Toshio Matsumoto / Photo: PJMIA

Moriyama_Asahi Camera

Daidō Moriyama (b. 1938), from Asahi Camera, 1969. Gelatin silver print, 7 3/8 x 10 1/2 in. Tokyo Polytechnic University, Shadai Gallery. © Daidō Moriyama / Courtesy of Tokyo Polytechnic University, Shadai Gallery and Taka Ishii Gallery

Moriyama_Farewell Photography_1 of 2

Daidō Moriyama (b. 1938), from Farewell Photography, 1970. Gelatin silver print, 8 1/16 x 10 in. Tokyo Polytechnic University, Shadai Gallery. © Daidō Moriyama / Courtesy of Tokyo Polytechnic University, Shadai Gallery and Taka Ishii Gallery

Moriyama_Farewell Photography_2 of 2

Daidō Moriyama (b. 1938), from Farewell Photography, 1970. Gelatin silver print, 9 15/16 x 12 1/8 in. Tokyo Polytechnic University, Shadai Gallery. © Daidō Moriyama / Courtesy of Tokyo Polytechnic University, Shadai Gallery and Taka Ishii Gallery

Nakahira_Untitled from a New Language_1 of 2

Takuma Nakahira (1938-2015), Untitled, 1968-1973, printed 2014. Gelatin silver print, 19 7/8 x 16 1/16 in. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Museum purchase funded by Anne Wilkes Tucker in honor of Yasufumi Nakamori, 2014.665. © Takuma Nakahira

Nakahira_Untitled _2 of 2

Takuma Nakahira (1938-2015), Untitled, 1968-1973, printed 2014. Gelatin silver print, 15 15/16 x 19 15/16 in. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Museum purchase funded by the Francis L. Lederer Foundation, 2014.669. © Takuma Nakahira

Nomura_Tardiology_1 of 8

Hitoshi Nomura (b. 1945), Tardiology, 1968-69. One of eight images in a series; black-and-white photographs, each 19 11/16 x 23 5/8 in. ©Hitoshi Nomura, courtesy of Fergus McCaffrey

Nomura_Tardiology_2 of 8

Hitoshi Nomura (b. 1945), Tardiology, 1968-69. One of eight images in a series; black-and-white photographs, each 19 11/16 x 23 5/8 in. ©Hitoshi Nomura, courtesy of Fergus McCaffrey

Otsuji_Showroom for Blank Space

Kiyoji Ōtsuji (1923-2001), Showroom for Blank Space, 1968. Gelatin silver print, 10 x 8 1/18 in. Musashino Art University Museum and Library. © Seiko Ōtsuji

Otsuji_Past of One Tin Can

Kiyoji Ōtsuji (1923-2001), Past of One Tin Can, from Otsuji Experimental Laboratory, 1977. Gelatin silver print, 8 x 9 15/16 in. Musashino Art University Museum and Library. © Seiko Ōtsuji

Suzuki_A Man in Cardboard Boxes

Kiyoshi Suzuki (1943-2000), A Man in Cardboard Boxes, Urasaki Tetsuo, Yokohama, from the series Mind Games, 1981. Gelatin silver print, 11 15/16 x 10 1/16 in. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, purchase funded by the Caroline Wiess Law Accessions Endowment Fund, 2014.719. © Kiyoshi Suzuki / Photo: Paul Hester, Hester + Hardaway Photography

Takamatsu_Photograph of a Photograph

Jirō Takamatsu (1936-1998), Photograph of a Photograph (No. D-2401), 1972. Gelatin silver print, 21 5/8 x 26 3/16 in. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Museum purchase funded by Bettie Cartwright and Michael A. Chesser in honor of Yasufumi Nakamori, 2012.219. © The Estate of Jirō Takamatsu, Courtesy of Yumiko Chiba Associates

Tomatsu_Protest 1

Shōmei Tomatsu (1930-2012), Protest 1 from the series Oh! Shinjuku, 1969, printed 1980. Gelatin silver print, 9 7/8 x 13 7/8in. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Museum purchase funded by the S.I. Morris Photography Endowment and Morris Weiner, 2011.765. © Shōmei Tōmatsu – INTERFACE

Uematsu_Horizontal Position

Keiji Uematsu (b. 1947), Horizontal Position, 1973/2003. Gelatin silver print, 57 1/8 x 35 7/16 in. Artist’s collection at Yumiko Chiba Associates, Tokyo. © Keiji Uematsu, courtesy of Yumiko Chiba Associates

Uematsu_Right Angle Position

Uematsu Keiji (b. 1947), Horizontal Position, Vertical Position, Right Angle Position, 1973/2003. Gelatin silver print, 57 1/8 x 35 7/16 in. Artist’s collection at Yumiko Chiba Associates, Tokyo. © Keiji Uematsu, courtesy of Yumiko Chiba Associates

Uematsu_Vertical Position

Keiji Uematsu (b. 1947), Horizontal Position, Vertical Position, Right Angle Position, 1973/2003. Gelatin silver print, 57 1/8 x 35 7/16 in. Artist’s collection at Yumiko Chiba Associates, Tokyo. © Keiji Uematsu, courtesy of Yumiko Chiba Associates

Yamanaka_Manhattan in Pinhole (1)

Nobuo Yamanaka (1948-1982), Manhattan in Pinhole 1, 1980. Chromogenic print, 8 1/16 x 10 in. National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. © Nobuo Yamanaka

Images courtesy Japan Society