shashasha

Known as one of his lifeworks, Araki’s series nude photographs of wives “Hitozuma Eros” originated in 1998 as a regular column for “Shukan Taishu” magazine published by Futabasha. Forming a series that still continues today, these photographs feature hundreds of wives who have sent in applications to be photographed by Araki over the past 15 years. While the works from this series that have been published in the magazine and in photo books up to date are in color, this exhibition will feature date-inscribed black and white photographs taken by Araki that have never been shown before. It also marks the first time for Araki to focus solely on exhibiting work from his “Hitozuma Eros” series.

The over 700 black and white cabinet size prints to be displayed on the walls of the gallery in a grid format, have all been taken with a 35mm camera, another feature which makes them distinct from the photographs that have been published for the magazine series, and depict a more intimate relationship between Araki and his female subject. In addition, the photographs have been painted by Araki himself with color markers, creating a completely new body of work. The exhibition will also feature roughly 20 large black and white hitozuma works that have been taken recently.

“They (the wives) themselves are a work of art,” explains Araki who, in creating a unique relationship between the photographer and subject, brings out the physical and inner beauty of the women in these photographs that show expressions that may have never even been seen before by their husbands. In seducing the viewer to “the world of hitozuma” Araki also depicts the strength and vitality behind what it means to be a woman.