AZITO is pleased to introduce five new artworks by Toshio Shibata as well as a gallerist talk about Keiichi Tanaami.

“a View” by Toshio Shibata

These images are not manipulated at all. They are all taken in real sceneries. Toshio Shibata uses his camera to cut out sceneries and to create new images in photographs. Water, grass, rocks, concrete blocks, guardrails or roads simply exist as a pattern in one image. Shibata said, “I never included the sky. Showing the sky would mean going back to depicting landscapes.” He is not capturing a landscape but the image with his high sensitivity.

“a View” by Toshio Shibata

He also avoids including information about the location of a shoot. One of the images out of the five was taken in the USA and the rest in Japan but it is difficult to tell which one was taken in the US. This also makes the image far from a landscape. With no nationality, no emotion, no time line, these senses of wonder draw our eyes to the image.

“a View” by Toshio Shibata

These 5 editions were printed along with the book titled “a View”. This book includes 44 images which Shibata took from 1995 to 2007. The book is in a turquoise blue special cover made for this edition. Please check the book and cover in detail on each artworks page.

“a View” by Toshio Shibata

Even though these are the same black and white photograph as the ones Daido Moriyama takes, what they express is totally different. Shibata’s images are sharp and straight when Moriyama’s images are blurry and rough. I admire artists’ creativity in finding their own expression which comes from the bottom of their hearts.

“a View” by Toshio Shibata

I enjoy art since it gives us an idea on how to look at things from a different aspect. Shibata’s photos are just like that. We must have seen these sceneries in our life but have passed by without taking any notice. By seeing his work, it looks as if nature and artificial objects are existing nicely together.
(AZITO’s partner gallery for this project: BLD Gallery)

AZITO interviewed Mr. Nanzuka, Gallery owner of Nanzuka Underground, about the artist Keiichi Tanaami.

Mr. Nanzuka was willing to receive our interview. Azito staffs were really nervous during the interview since it was the first time for us to interview a gallerist, but he was composed and answered to the questions very fluently and interestingly. Watch more videos at Azito Channel on YouTube.

All works are available on AZITO.

AZITO is an online gallery which brings the hottest contemporary Japanese artworks to the international scale. By collaborating with Japan’s leading galleries and artists, AZITO makes these works readily available for purchase online. And with new arrivals every month, this is truly your personalized insight into the thriving world of Japanese contemporary art.