Ihei Kimura — Living in Photography

Mar 16 - May 12

In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of his death, this exhibit features the work of Ihei Kimura (1901–1974), a photographer who made significant contributions to the history of Japanese photography. Kimura was one of the first to recognize the potential of newly developed compact, 35mm-format cameras for photographic expression, cameras that were just beginning practical use in the 1920s. Kimura established his reputation with portraits of literary figures and quick snapshots of everyday scenes in old neighborhoods of Tokyo, making use of these cameras. At the Portrait Photography of Literary Figures with the Leica Camera, his first solo exhibition, held in 1933, Kimura established his unique style of capturing spontaneous reactions from his subjects, rather than traditional portraiture. In 1936, he visited Okinawa for the first time and recorded the everyday life of the people there, capturing the essence of daily living. This helped establish his reputation as a “master of the Leica camera.”

A prolific photographer, Kimura left behind many masterpieces capturing a wide range of subjects. These include advertising and promotional photos, photos of kabuki and other theatrical performances, works created with color film during his stay in Europe, and a series of photos on the theme of rural villages in Akita Prefecture. His outstanding camerawork and deep understanding of photographic equipment and photo-sensitized materials are backed by his strong curiosity and rich experiences. He was aware of the social function of photography to convey images of human activity through print media and positioned himself as a photojournalist. His photographic expression, which is characterized by a distinctive perspective, is unique and will continue to live on in the memories of those who see it.
In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the death of the photographer, this exhibition will be showcasing a special exhibition of prints that were recently discovered from his last solo exhibition, Journey to China (1972-1973).


Schedule
Mar 16, 2024 (Saturday) - May 12, 2024 (Sunday)

Opening Hours Information
Open from 10:00 to 18:00
Closes at 20:00 on Thursdays and Fridays
Closed on Monday
Open on a public holiday Monday but closed on the following day

Fee
Adults ¥1200
University Students, Seniors 65 & Over ¥1000
High School and Junior High School Students ¥800

Venue
Tokyo Photographic Art Museum

Location
Yebisu Garden Place, 1-13-3 Mita, Meguro-ku, 153-0062 Tokyo

Access
7-minute walk from the East exit of Ebisu Station on the JR Yamanote and Saikyo lines, 11-minute walk from exit 1 at Ebisu Station on the Hibiya line.