Seen: Camera Obscura / Pink Ararchy暗箱 アラゴジラぴんくん
Who: Nobuyoshi Araki 荒木経惟
Where: Art Space AM, Harajuku (map)
When: July 7 - September 9, 2023 (Open 12-7pm. Closed Sun. & Mon.)
This exhibition coincides with the release of a new book- one that comes with an original, signed Araki Polaroid. (Hence the 50,000 yen price). The show is a mix of his ongoing Paradise series- Polaroids and washi-printed inkjets of dolls, flowers. In addition are 6x7 GF670W slide-film-snapshots of his neighborhood (these are from the book).
As I looked at the photographs, I found myself unexpectedly, and deeply moved. Araki as a pink plastic figure (camera in hand) felt like a transformation to the other side- - he’s not in the best shape now, and seeing the goofy doll with a froze face amongst the lurid flowers and dolls felt like saying goodbye. I almost had tears in my eyes at picture of a phenomenal, inky-dark thunder cloud overwhelming a bright sunset into a corner. But then, in the grid of polaroids was a giant dildo set upright between two chrysanthemum blossoms. I couldn’t help but laugh. Death with that sense of humor? He’s still got it.
I’m writing cheesy dumb stuff here now but if not on Tumblr, where? Not IG, because then my afternoon is debates with strangers in my DMs. You can write cheesy stuff on Tumblr because, first of all, it’s Tumblr- and second of all, no one’s here to see or read it.