Gain a behind-the-scenes look at the forthcoming retrospectives of the renowned Japanese photographers

Hear exhibition curator Thyago Nogueira give insight into the various approaches taken to display the prolific career of Japanese photographer Daido Moriyama. Joining Nogueira is Thomas Sutton, co-curator of the forthcoming survey of Hiroshi Sugimoto at Hayward Gallery. Together they also look at what it means to show the work of these visionaries in London now. 

This talk is moderated by Shoair Mavlian (Director, The Photographers' Gallery).

Talk: Curating Moriyama and Sugimoto

Podcast based on own text, and prepared with Google NotebookLM.

Daido Moriyama is a groundbreaking Japanese photographer whose work captures the raw, often chaotic essence of urban life. Born in Osaka in 1938, Moriyama rose to prominence during the 1960s—a time of significant social and cultural upheaval in Japan. His style emerged as a reaction to rapid modernization and the associated sense of alienation that permeated Japanese society. Moriyama’s gritty, high-contrast black-and-white photographs, known for their grainy texture and disorienting perspectives, reflect a philosophy that embraces imperfection, spontaneity, and a focus on the darker aspects of urban life.

Moriyama’s aesthetic is closely tied to the Provoke movement, a radical, short-lived collective that sought to challenge the conventions of photography. His work, like that in Farewell Photography (1972), embodies the Provoke principles of are, bure, boke (“grainy, blurry, out-of-focus”), prioritizing raw emotion over technical precision. This approach transformed Moriyama’s photography into a means of existential exploration, emphasizing themes of disconnection and rebellion against societal norms. Rather than creating polished compositions, Moriyama utilized rough, experimental darkroom techniques, infusing his images with a sense of tension and instability that mirrored the rapidly changing urban landscapes of post-war Japan ￼ ￼.

Moriyama’s choice of equipment reflects his philosophy of capturing spontaneity. He often used compact cameras, such as the Ricoh GR, which allowed him to move fluidly through urban environments. This camera’s wide-angle lens enabled him to capture immersive, close-up shots of everyday street scenes without drawing attention to himself. Moriyama’s technique of high-contrast film processing, combined with his use of unconventional compositions, underscores his fascination with the transitory and fragmentary nature of urban existence.

Moriyama’s influence on contemporary photography extends far beyond Japan. His emphasis on rawness, texture, and abstraction has inspired photographers around the world to experiment with similar techniques. By challenging traditional notions of beauty and pushing the boundaries of photographic aesthetics, he has paved the way for future generations to view photography as more than just a tool for documentation. In an era where digital precision is increasingly valued, Moriyama’s work stands as a reminder of the emotional and philosophical potential of imperfection in art.

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform the visual arts, Moriyama’s style may offer a counterbalance to the hyper-realistic, polished images that AI can produce. AI tools are now capable of generating highly detailed images, often with levels of precision that surpass human capability. Yet, in this context, Moriyama’s work exemplifies an aesthetic that celebrates imperfection and emotional resonance. The future of photography might witness a blend of AI precision with human spontaneity, where artists use AI tools to explore new forms of expression while retaining the raw, instinctual qualities that define Moriyama’s legacy.

In a world increasingly shaped by AI, Moriyama’s influence could inspire photographers to maintain a sense of authenticity and resist the homogenization of visual art. His approach emphasizes the beauty in chaos and the value of capturing fleeting moments that evoke a visceral response—qualities that, while challenging to replicate with AI, may find new interpretations as technology and human creativity continue to converge. Moriyama’s legacy thus stands as a testament to photography’s enduring power as a medium for both artistic exploration and societal reflection, offering a profound reminder of the importance of maintaining a human element within the evolving landscape of digital art.

Daido Moriyama The Raw Power Of Urban Photography

Episode 1: "Daido Moriyama: Beauty in Imperfection"

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Own texts (unless I have marked otherwise). The music is samples, experiments with AI tools, Audacity and digital manipulation.

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