Hana Jinsei (Flower - Life) | Solo Exhibition of Nobuyoshi Araki

Over the Influence is proud to present Hana Jinsei (Flower – Life), a solo exhibition of photographic works by Nobuyoshi Araki, on view April 15 – May 13, 2018. Curated by Hisako Motoo, who often collaborates with the artist on shows and publishing projects, the exhibit offers Araki’s intimate and sentimental view of the world through images of flowers. The relationship between life and death is a major thematic arc in Araki’s work, which can be found in his earliest photographs of dried-up flowers in graveyards to his most recent series “KAYU”. Hana Jinsei (Flower – Life), includes floral motif works from multiple series across his distinguished career such as “Flowers and Jamorinsky”,“KAIN”, “FLOWER LOND”, “EROTOS”, “SHIKIJOKA", and “KAYU”.

On the 26th in January, 1991 Araki visited his wife Aoki Yoko in the hospital, with a bunch of Magnolia Kobus. She passed away the next day, and near her pillow he found the flowers had bloomed. At her funeral Araki captured his wife one last time as she laid in her coffin. As a tribute to his wife’s love of flora, Araki has made them the cornerstone of his oeuvre.

Highlights include his series “FLOWER LOND,” while considered of one of his most popular series, this is the first time they will be exhibited. Shot in the 90’s these feature only flowers which he shot with a macro lens. Also on view are photographs originally published in his book “Blue Period” which feature works shot on black and white film, but developed using a color processing method. These photos are also the introduction of the female form adorned with flowers. Hana Jinsei (Flower – Life) also presents a new series, “KAYU,” where dolls take the place of the female form.

While Araki’s sensuous and arousing style is most conspicuous in his photographs of nude females, his floral images carry suggestive undertones with their many furrows and protuberances. Araki’s vibrant, saturated prints reveal the hidden parts of the plant – bringing vitality to his still life compositions through color, contrast, and texture.