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Hiroji Kubota "U.S.A. 1963-69 and Burma 1970-78"
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Hiroji Kubota
THe sole Japanese member of international photographer group "Magnum", Hiroji Kubota has done photo shoots in many countries. What prompted him to work in the international arena was his encounters with people and especially with two countries, the U.S. and Burma.
Having a privilege of helping crucial Magnum members for their project in Japan in 1961, Kubota was fascinated by their performance, deciding to become a photographer himself. In the following year, brushing away his family's opposition, Kubota relocated to the U.S. with Leica M3 and two lenses in hand. Having traveled to various places, he happened to witness "the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom" in the U.S. capital, while also venturing to the American South and Southwest, where native Americans resided. These trips gave him an opportunity to rediscover his Japanese identity. As living in the U.S. up until 1967, he saw with his own eyes its radical change as a result of Vietnam War. In 1968, he traveled through Western Europe, the Middle East, India, Burma, Thailand and Hong Kong for over 10 months, learning firsthand the diversity and complexity of the world.
In 1969, Kubota documented people of Okinawa, focusing not only on American soldiers who were sent to Vietnam but on local people, being moved by their original lifestyle, culture and dignity. After this experience, his feeling toward Asia grew significantly, leading him to work extensively in Burma, an extreme opposite of the U.S.
Having frequented Burma since 1970, Kubota visited there for 70 times in total by 1978. Once the richest nation of Southeast Asia, denizens there now are unbelievably pious and generous despite the situation where they are placed under the government's oppressive rule. After a series of shooting in Burma, Kubota expanded the scope of his activity to other parts of Asia including China and North Korea.
On view in this exhibition are over 70 black and white photographs Kubota took in the U.S. and Burma. His Asian series are now exhibited at Kiyosato Photo Art Museum.
Having a privilege of helping crucial Magnum members for their project in Japan in 1961, Kubota was fascinated by their performance, deciding to become a photographer himself. In the following year, brushing away his family's opposition, Kubota relocated to the U.S. with Leica M3 and two lenses in hand. Having traveled to various places, he happened to witness "the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom" in the U.S. capital, while also venturing to the American South and Southwest, where native Americans resided. These trips gave him an opportunity to rediscover his Japanese identity. As living in the U.S. up until 1967, he saw with his own eyes its radical change as a result of Vietnam War. In 1968, he traveled through Western Europe, the Middle East, India, Burma, Thailand and Hong Kong for over 10 months, learning firsthand the diversity and complexity of the world.
In 1969, Kubota documented people of Okinawa, focusing not only on American soldiers who were sent to Vietnam but on local people, being moved by their original lifestyle, culture and dignity. After this experience, his feeling toward Asia grew significantly, leading him to work extensively in Burma, an extreme opposite of the U.S.
Having frequented Burma since 1970, Kubota visited there for 70 times in total by 1978. Once the richest nation of Southeast Asia, denizens there now are unbelievably pious and generous despite the situation where they are placed under the government's oppressive rule. After a series of shooting in Burma, Kubota expanded the scope of his activity to other parts of Asia including China and North Korea.
On view in this exhibition are over 70 black and white photographs Kubota took in the U.S. and Burma. His Asian series are now exhibited at Kiyosato Photo Art Museum.
Schedule | Sep 9 (Wed) 2009-Oct 17 (Sat) 2009 Opening Hours Information
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| Fee | Free | ||||
| Website | http://www.pgi.ac/content/view/245/76/lang,en/ | ||||
| Venue | PGI http://www.pgi.ac/index.php?lang=en | ||||
| Location | 3F TKB Bldg., 2-3-4 Higashi-azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0044 | ||||
| Access | 4 minute walk from the Nakanohashi exit of Akabanebashi Station on the Toei Oedo line, 8 minute walk from exit 6 at Azabu-juban Station on the Namboku or Toei Oedo line, 8 minute walk from exit 1 at Kamiyacho Station on the Hibiya line. | ||||
| Phone | 03-5114-7935 | ||||
| Related images | Click on the image to enlarge it |
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