Joachim Schmid, O Campo, 2010 In the last few years a growing number of artists and photographers self-publish their work in an attempt to make their work visible while bypassing more ‘traditional’ publishing routes. The popular website Blurb.com is perhaps the best-known platform on which artists can upload their work and create a book that…
Hisaji Hara, A Study of ‘Therese’, 2009 and Balthus, Therese, 1938 The provocative paintings of the French-Polish artist Balthus are the starting point for Japanese photographer Hisaji Hara’s visually arresting photographs currently on display at the Michael Hoppen Gallery. Like in Balthus’ work, the photographs are deeply voyeuristic, sexually suggestive, and fetishistic. As their titles…
Kohei Yoshiyuki, The Park, 1971-1979 In the early 1970’s, while walking with a friend through a park in Tokyo, photographer Kohei Yoshiyuki noticed that young couples used the park as a space for intimate encounters in the belief that they are protected by the darkness of the night. Equipped with a small camera and Kodak’s…