Ikko Narahara “Where Time Has Vanished”
Taka Ishii Gallery Photography / Film
Until Jul 19
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Artists
Ikko Narahara
Taka Ishii Gallery Photography / Film is pleased to present “Where Time Has Vanished,” an exhibition of the photography of Ikko Narahara, from Thursday, June 12 to Saturday, July 19, 2025. This exhibition, the artist’s first solo show at the gallery in two years, will feature 15 vintage prints from the series of the same title. The series captured the landscapes of the United States from Narahara’s unique macroscopic perspective during his stay from 1970 to 1974, and was compiled into a photo book in 1975 after his return to Japan.
After traveling through Europe in the early 1960s, Narahara set his sights on the US, arriving in New York in 1970. The following year, he took part in a workshop led by Diane Arbus (1923-1971), who was quickly gaining recognition as a bold and groundbreaking photographer. His in-depth discussions with Arbus, known for her raw and personal approach to photography, had a profound impact on Narahara, causing him to reassess his own approach to the medium. In 1971 and 1972, Narahara embarked on two cross-country trips across the US. His first trip took him by long-distance bus to the West, where he rented a car and spent around 20 days exploring various regions. On his second trip, Narahara purchased a new station wagon and traveled through the Midwest, passing through Pennsylvania and Illinois before heading south to Missouri. From there he continued his three-month journey, revisiting the West. While in New Mexico, Narahara visited villages inhabited by Native Americans and immersed himself in their philosophy of coexistence with nature, an experience he cited as life-changing. Desolate airfields scattered across the vast desert, and crumbling ghost towns that once prospered due to coal mining, embody nature’s vast power to shape time at a scale beyond the human lifespan. Narahara recalled that these scenes evoked a sensation like stepping onto an alien planet. The unforgiving sunlight beating down on the bare earth creates striking contrasts in his photographs, casting deep shadows that intensify the images’ impact. When we reopen the door to the American landscapes that Narahara closed nearly half a century ago, timeless images emerge before us, revealing the artist’s ceaseless pursuit of the universal through photography.
After traveling through Europe in the early 1960s, Narahara set his sights on the US, arriving in New York in 1970. The following year, he took part in a workshop led by Diane Arbus (1923-1971), who was quickly gaining recognition as a bold and groundbreaking photographer. His in-depth discussions with Arbus, known for her raw and personal approach to photography, had a profound impact on Narahara, causing him to reassess his own approach to the medium. In 1971 and 1972, Narahara embarked on two cross-country trips across the US. His first trip took him by long-distance bus to the West, where he rented a car and spent around 20 days exploring various regions. On his second trip, Narahara purchased a new station wagon and traveled through the Midwest, passing through Pennsylvania and Illinois before heading south to Missouri. From there he continued his three-month journey, revisiting the West. While in New Mexico, Narahara visited villages inhabited by Native Americans and immersed himself in their philosophy of coexistence with nature, an experience he cited as life-changing. Desolate airfields scattered across the vast desert, and crumbling ghost towns that once prospered due to coal mining, embody nature’s vast power to shape time at a scale beyond the human lifespan. Narahara recalled that these scenes evoked a sensation like stepping onto an alien planet. The unforgiving sunlight beating down on the bare earth creates striking contrasts in his photographs, casting deep shadows that intensify the images’ impact. When we reopen the door to the American landscapes that Narahara closed nearly half a century ago, timeless images emerge before us, revealing the artist’s ceaseless pursuit of the universal through photography.
Schedule Now in session | Jun 12 (Thu) 2025-Jul 19 (Sat) 2025 28 days left Opening Hours Information
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| Fee | Free | ||||
| Website | https://www.takaishiigallery.com/en/archives/40578/ | ||||
| Venue | Taka Ishii Gallery Photography / Film http://www.takaishiigallery.com/ | ||||
| Location | 2F Axis Bldg., 5-17-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032 | ||||
| Access | 8 minute walk from exit 3 at Roppongi Station on the Hibiya or Toei Oedo line, 8 minute walk from exit 1 at Roppongi-itchome Station on the Namboku line. | ||||
| Phone | 03-6447-1035 | ||||
| Related images | Click on the image to enlarge it |
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