Ken Domon (1909-90) was born in Sakai City in Yamagata Prefecture and grew up in Taninaka, Tokyo and Yokohama, dreaming of becoming a painter one day. During those struggling days, his mother recommended that he join the photo studio of Kotaro Miyauchi in Ueno in 1933, but soon after, he realized the direction he was heading and moved to the photo studio of Yonosuke Natori, who specialized in journalistic photography.
In 1939, art critic Sumio Mizusawa introduced Domon to the Muro-ji temple and Domon started taking a series of photographs of temples and Buddhist statues in Nara and Kyoto. He continued to take photographs of Japanese traditional culture such as theater, ceramic, textile, and flower arrangement, and also portraits of various individuals and children in downtown settings.
In 1960, Domon published his photography book entitled "Children of Chikuho," which was printed on newsprint paper, to report the poverty in Chikuho, the coal mining district in Fukuoka Prefecture. It was sold for 100 yen and a total of 100,000 copies were sold. Domon suffered from cerebral hemorrhages, but he continued to take photographs with a clear vision and passion in what he wanted to communicate through his photographs.
With the support of Ken Domon Memorial Museum, which opened in Sakata City in 1983, this exhibition presents around 120 works.
Exhibition Part I: December 16th (Sun) - January 16th (Wed)
Exhibition Part II: January 17th (Thurs) - February 11th (Mon/ Holiday)
Lectures:
"Ken Domon's Student Speaks about Him" by Takeshi Fujimori (Photographer)
January 14th (Thurs) 14:00-15:30
"Pre/ Post Ken Domon - Domon in the History of Photography"
January 27th (Sun) 14:00-15:30
Location: Kichijoji Art Museum Music Hall.
Capacity: 80 people
Free (exhibition ticket required)
[Image: "Isami Kondo & Kumara Tengu" (1955) Ken Tsuchiya Memorial Museum Collection]
Closed on the last Wednesday of each month and during the New Year holidays.
Notice
Closed on December 26th (Wed), December 29th (Sat)-January 3rd (Thurs), January 30th (Wed).
Fee
Adults ¥100; Elementary School Students and Under free; Seniors 65 & Over, Persons with Disability Certificates free. [Special Exhibition] Adults ¥300, High School and Junior High School Students ¥100
Venue
Kichijoji Art Museum
Location
7F FF Bldg., 1-8-16 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-0004
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