Gallery Japanesque is pleased to announce the next exhibition Spirit of Forest by Yasuo Kiyonaga.
These are spirit images of the forest of Japan that the artist encountered during shooting.
They are not concretely visible but by dropping their universe, it will be possible to see them with your internal senses. Come and discover the mysterious forest which the Japanese artist photographed.
Spirit of Forest
Maybe it’s because I grew up near the quiet, temperate Seto Inland Sea, but forests have always been a source of endless fascination for me. I remember feeling in awe of the presences I sensed among the trees, and this has drawn me back over and over again.
In February, I visited the foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains in winter. My photography equipment and the solitude weighed heavily upon me, and the piercing cold stole my body heat.
I was walking along, and before I knew it, I was drawn into an unknown world. I was hesitant to proceed, but my mind was in a state of turmoil and my consciousness faded away as if I were in a trance.
A large figure slowly danced before my mind’s eye. It playfully struck a pose, as if inviting me to take a picture. The encounter lasted only a moment, but it felt much longer.
When I opened my eyes, I was back in the forest. The trees stared down at me, not saying a word. No doubt I was lured in by the spirits who have inhabited Japanese forests since ancient times.
Yasuo Kiyonaga
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