"Driving alone in Hokkaido, some twenty years ago, I was startled to see an attractive fence, climbing up a snow-covered hillside. I stopped the car by the side of the road and photographed it. Later, I would need a truck driver to tow me out of the field of snow where I had inadvertently parked, but that’s another story. Almost every year since, I have returned to Hokkaido and have continued to photograph this fence and the hillside. The minimalism and sheer simplicity of the scene transforms three dimensions into two, and the sparse elements involved seem to make the print more like a Sumi-e ink painting than a photograph. One might think that little could change, year in year out, in such a scene. Yet, each time I revisit, I find that it is different. Perhaps a new pattern and configuration has appeared, an arrangement of forms changes, distance seems to contract or lengthen to become ambiguous, perspectives may shift, snow levels always vary, and the light is never the same. I am so appreciative of this location. It is a gift which keeps giving."
~ Michael Kenna
Michael Kenna has been revisiting and capturing some of the same scenes in Hokkaido for over two decades. At first glance, many may think these photographs are all about simplicity. But as you dive deeper, the endless variations emerge, with ever-changing light, snow levels, and subtle shifts in perspective. Kenna's persistence becomes its own dynamic, and the results are beautiful.
If you connect with Michael's work, I highly suggest visiting the gallery to see Michael's beautiful new exhibition. Presented by Nikkei, the Financial Times and Peter Fetterman Gallery, ‘Japan / A Love story features highlights from Michael Kenna’s work in Japan over almost four decades.
The exhibition runs in Santa Monica from May 11 to July 20. Stay tuned London for the next leg of the exhibition this Fall 2024!
