Weekend Video

Thanks to the anonymous sender of the link to the above video. It gives a nice sense of the magic feeling of being in Tokyo. And thanks to the film-maker, Emily Nathan. (Please note: it may take a moment to load.)

Tokyo Photo ctd.

So you walk down Roppongi Street, take the little alley (above) next to the AM/PM store, and you’ll find the Belle Salle Roppongi where Tokyo Photo 2009 is taking place.

It’s beautifully organized by our hosts Tomo Harada and Toru Fukaya, the booths are immaculately built, and the crowds and response on opening night were overwhelming.

The Belle Salle Roppongi.

Here’s a glimpse of my booth. The fair is organized with “Photo America” upstairs. An exhibition anchored by the Museum of Photographic Arts and three American dealers – myself, Rose Shoshana, and Paul Kopeikin. Downstairs are 14 Japanese dealers from whom you’ll see my highlights, below. There’s a predominance of contemporary sized urban, industrial, and forest landscapes – but I guess you could say it’s an accurate representation of the country. There’s certainly not the same amount of personally introspective or constructed work you would see in America.

But going in order round the fair, here are some of the pieces that caught my eye:

Two pictures by Naoki Ishikawa at Gallery Terra.

Two urban landscape by Yurie Nagashima at Scai The Bathhouse Gallery.

Two photographs by Taiji Matsue at Taro Nasu Gallery that turned out to be of a model of Tokyo but were striking and vibrant nonetheless.

"Life's Little Worries" by Tatzu Nishi at Urano Aratani

Two views of Mount Fuji by Ken Kitano at MEM Gallery

Also at MEM, Yasumasa Morimura's "Hand Leonardo da Vinci" from 1996.

And two fairy tale looking forests by Yoshihiko Ueda at G/P Gallery.

And last but not least, a suite of gravures by Hiroshi Sugimoto, not readily available in the U.S., at Hiromiyoshi Gallery.

That's a quick Japanese floor report. More on the U.S. floor and Tokyo life tomorrow.

Tokyo Photo

Dear Readers,

I am in Tokyo for the next week participating in the first Tokyo Photo Fair. It's also my first trip to Japan. I arrived last night.

The 13 1/2 hour flight over was surprisingly comfortable and my first taste of Japan was being faced with the above drink machine outside the airport. A difficiult choice, but as you can see I settled on the Mets grapefruit soda (delicious) before going into town on the friendly (and efficient) limousine bus.

We install the show today so stay tuned for regular updates. But if anyone happens to be near the Roppongi district, do come by and say hi. Details are here.