Seen: Nobuyoshi Araki’s “Love on the Left Eye” at Taka Ishii Gallery
Love on the Left Eye is a continuation of facing life itself with a camera, but also carries on Araki’s recent and sometimes severe physical alteration of his pictures- this time with a black marker. The Taka Ishii Gallery statement for the show explains:
Since October of last year, Araki has been largely unable to see out of his right eye due to a retinal artery obstruction. Still, he has continued to shoot with unchanged vigor: in total, this series consists of hundreds of images. Araki shot the photographs that make up “Love on the Left Eye” on slide film, and, before making any prints, he filled up the right side of the film with a black magic marker. The printed photographs, then, reflect Araki’s vision—the left side of each image is clear, but the right side is clouded.
The opening reception coincided with Araki’s birthday and featured live music, birthday cake, and a roomful of fans taking pictures of it all.
Nobuyoshi Araki Love on the Left Eye
May 25 – Jun 21, 2014
Taka Ishii Gallery Kiyosumi, Tokyo (map)