Nobuioshy Araki: Flower Life

The first solo exhibition in Turin dedicated to the renowned Japanese master is presented in collaboration with the AM Gallery in Tokyo.

“Flower-Life” takes on the title of the book of the same name published in 2018: the selected works offer a comprehensive view of the artist’s work, characterised by an intimate and vibrant approach to life and beauty, whether this is manifested in flowers or in the feminine universe. The images belonging to the series Flower Rondeau (1999, in progress) make up an entire wall of coloured flowers, accompanied in the gallery by the bondage photographs, in colour and black and white, that have made Araki famous world over.

“If Yoko had not given me permission to photograph, I wonder if my photographic life would ever have begun”.

Since the death of Yoko (Araki’s wife, who passed away in 1990), Araki has continued to photograph the flowers she loved so much. Cut down, the flowers are brought back to life by the artist within his photographs. Yoko’s existence exerted a great influence on Araki’s photography, leading him to devote himself to portraits. In Japan, the rope (kinbaku) is an important theme, which can be traced back to the divine, and the rope itself comes in different shapes and materials.