Yasuhiro Ogawa | Into The Silence
a pop-up exhibition
organised by Blue Lotus Gallery
at Beverhoutplein 2, 9000 Gent, Belgium
opening reception: 11 August, 5-8pm
open Friday–Sunday 9am-5pm, otherwise on appointment
About the exhibition:
Yasuhiro Ogawa’s brand new project Into the Silence, soon to be released as a photobook pubished by Blue Lotus Editions Hong Kong, captures the rugged yet timeless beauty of Japan’s northern region.
The exhibition wil also feature about ten selected handmade dark room prints of his previous project: The Dreaming, photos taken during his travels over 30 years.
Ogawa’s imagery creates an intimate poetic record of the emotions and sentiments that come with the act of traveling; the feeling of sweet boredom during long train journeys, the loneliness that accompanies being in a new and unfamiliar place, and the sense of freedom and adventure that comes with traveling. His work is a testament to the simple pleasures of feeling alive.
Into The Silence
The story of Matsuo Bashō's journey through the northern provinces of Japan in the 17th century, as recounted in his travelogue "The Narrow Road to the Deep North,” ("Oku no Hosomichi”) is a testament to the enduring mystique of the country's interior. In the summer of 1689, Bashō set out on his journey with his traveling companion Sora. They traveled on foot, carrying only minimal provisions and staying in humble lodgings along the way. Bashō was seeking inspiration for his poetry, and he found it in the natural beauty and cultural richness of the places he visited.
Despite its rich cultural and natural heritage, this region remains relatively unknown to many people, both within and outside of Japan. However, a recent photobook by Yasuhiro Ogawa titled "Into the Silence" offers a glimpse into this little-explored world, highlighting both the beauty and challenges of this remote region. Like Bashō before him, Ogawa set out on a journey through the Tōhoku region, unlike Bashō, who traveled on foot with pen in hand, Ogawa preferred to move by train and occasional ferry with camera in hand. His photographs capture the rugged beauty of the landscape, from snow-covered mountains to misty forests but also include mondain house formations, deserted roads and glimpses of wild oceans, often shot through foggy windows on a train in motion. Through his lens, Ogawa reveals a world that is both remote and timeless, a world in stillness and motion.
Despite the passage of centuries, the challenges faced by Bashō on his journey are still evident in Ogawa's photographs. The loneliness and isolation of the road are palpable in the shots of empty trains, lone tracks or roads and desolate hotel interiors shot. So are the physical challenges of traversing rough terrain and inclement weather documented in his muted photographs.
What is striking about Ogawa's photographs is the contrast between the beauty and tranquility of the landscape and the harsh realities of life in this remote region. From plain coastal towns to empty streets, Ogawa's images reveal the toll that economic decline and depopulation have taken on the area. Yet, amidst the unostentatiousness, there remains a sense of hope and resilience. In many ways, Ogawa's photobook is a continuation of Bashō's journey. Both men sought to explore and capture the essence of this little-known region, and both found inspiration in the beauty and challenges of the road. While times have changed, and the region has undergone significant transformation, the enduring mystique of the interior of Japan lives on. Through "Into the Silence," Yasuhiro Ogawa offers a glimpse into this world, and like Bashō will inspire generations of poets and travelers, both in Japan and around the world.
About Yasuhiro Ogawa
Born in Kanagawa in 1968, Ogawa's interest in photography was sparked at the age of 24 after encountering the work of Sebastião Salgado in a magazine.
Through his lens, Ogawa creates ethereal and dreamlike images that transport the viewer to another world. His photographs often feature misty landscapes, solitary figures, and a sense of stillness and contemplation. Overall, Yasuhiro Ogawa's work is a testament to the power of photography to evoke emotion, inspire introspection, and reveal the beauty and wonder of the world around us. Through his unique perspective and emotional depth, Yasuhiro Ogawa captures the beauty and mystery of travel, creating images that are both timeless and evocative.
Ogawa's work has been exhibited in fairs, galleries and museums around the world, including solo and group exhibitions such as Photo London 2023, Blue Lotus Gallery Hong Kong (2020), Futashika-na-Chizu at Kodak Photo Salon, Tokyo (1999), Winter Journey at Doozo Gallery, Rome (2013), and Contes des iles et Paysages de la Mer du Japon at Inbetween Gallery, Paris (2018). He has published five photo books, including 'Cascade' (Sokyusha, 2017) and 'The Dreaming' (Sokyusha & Blue Lotus editions, 2022), and has won several awards, including the Taiyo Award and The Photographic Society of Japan New Comer Award.
Yasuhiro Ogawa is exclusively represented by Blue Lotus Gallery, Hong Kong. He currently resides in Tokyo.
Yasuhiro Ogawa | Into The Silence
由 Blue Lotus Gallery 舉辦的快閃展覽
地址：Beverhoutplein 2 (bij St-Jacobs), 9000 根特, 比利時
週五至週日上午 9 點至下午 5 點開放，其他日子敬請預約
免費入場
小川康博的最新系列《Into the Silence》捕捉了日本北部地區粗獷而永恆的美態，並即將以攝影集形式發行。
展覽還將展出他另一系列《The Dreaming》精選的十幅手工黑房銀鹽作品，本系列記錄了小川 30 年的攝影和旅游生涯。
小川創造出既私密又富詩意的影像記錄，捕捉了旅途中的情感和情緒：長途火車旅程時甜蜜的放空、在陌生的地方伴隨的孤獨、以及征途上帶來的自由和冒險感。
