Curators: Tomo Kosuga, Yan Qi

Exhibition Executive：Zhao Yumeng

Organizer: Three Shadows Photography Art Centre

Partners: Masahisa Fukase Archive, Three Shadows +3 Gallery

Supporter: The Japan Foundation, Beijing，FANTAC

Duration: June 27, 2024 - September 8, 2024

Venue: Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, 155A Caochangdi, Chaoyang, Beijing

On June 27th, the opening ceremony and seventeenth-anniversary party for the annual exhibition "Private Scenes: Masahisa Fukase" took place at Three Shadows Photography Art Centre. This exhibition showcases the remarkable talent of artist Masahisa Fukase (1934-2012) through 376 classic photographic works from twenty series. It offers a comprehensive review and examination of Fukase's life and artistic achievements, presenting the essence of his creative periods and stylistic evolution.

Masahisa Fukase was a highly regarded photographer who found poetry in everyday scenes and depicted dark crows in desolate coastal towns. Through his unique visual language, he explored themes of solitude, aging, and mortality, inviting viewers to confront their own humanity.

"Private Scenes: Masahisa Fukase" is curated by Tomo Kosuga, the director of Masahisa Fukase Archives, and Yan Qi, the executive director of Three Shadows Photography Art Centre. It is a collaborative effort between Masahisa Fukase Archives and Three Shadows +3 Gallery, generously supported by The Japan Foundation, Beijing, and FANTAC.

The opening day saw the attendance of co-curators Tomo Kosuga and Yan Qi, along with notable guests such as Hayato Tadokoro, the cultural attaché of the Embassy of Japan in China, Akihiko Noda, the director of The Japan Foundation, Beijing, Gu Zheng, critic and professor at Fudan University, director Gu Changwei, Xie Wei, the domestic general manager of FANTAC, Zhang Zeju, the product manager of FANTAC, Lu Qian, the manager of FANTAC's professional imaging department, RongRong&inri, co-founders of Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, and nearly three hundred guests and media representatives. During the opening ceremony, Professor Gu Zheng engaged in a dialogue with the co-curators, discussing Masahisa Fukase's creative journey and the historical context.

In his opening speech, co-curator Tomo Kosuga expressed, "We are delighted to present Masahisa Fukase's first exhibition in China, particularly on the tenth anniversary of Masahisa Fukase Archives and the seventeenth anniversary of Three Shadows Photography Art Centre. This retrospective exhibition is truly exceptional, featuring a grand collection of Mr. Fukase's black and white images, including his renowned works Ravens, Yoko, and Family. The color photography section showcases Mr. Fukase's highly experimental works. Our aim is to provide the audience with a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of Masahisa Fukase's artistic achievements. We extend our gratitude to all the esteemed guests, the Three Shadows team, and the support from The Japan Foundation, Beijing, and FANTAC!"

During the opening night, the exhibition hall featured a special installation called Circular Island, where attendees could experience an Ambient Meditation - Vinyl Set by "RE: ANALOG". This unique musical experience, inspired by Fukase's work Ravens, combined natural sounds to immerse the audience in the intertwined realms of art and music, allowing them to deeply connect with the profound emotions and inner philosophical thoughts conveyed by Fukase's works.

Throughout the exhibition period, a series of customized activities will be launched for art enthusiasts. Additionally, the Chinese version of the Masahisa Fukase Monograph will be released this summer, with pre-sales currently underway.

Translator: Feng Haoxuan

Reviewer: BAI Jing