In 2000 Mieko Matsumoto was selected as a finalist in the 15th Photography Hitotsubo Exhibition for “Beautiful Town,” her photos about life in Tokaimura, the village near her home in Ibaraki Prefecture where a criticality accident occurred the previous year. She was again a finalist in the follow-up 16th Photography Hitotsubo Exhibition, this time for “Everybody’s House,” photos detailing the progressive razing of her grandfather’s house in Mito. Since those early achievements, Matsumoto has steadily expanded the breadth of her activities with works shown at venues including Art Tower Mito, Ichihara Art x Mix, Tottori Geiju Festival and KENPOKU ART.
Matsumoto, who is based in Mito City in Ibaraki Prefecture, takes everyday life as her theme, photographing the people around her and places she is familiar with. Since 2014 she has been doing research into local history, industry and the like, producing photos of social occurrences.
This exhibition will feature photographs Mieko Matsumoto has taken in various locations since the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami of 2011, integrated with a slide show of new works. When Nature causes changes or things occur that are beyond man’s ability to control, situations change like changing scenes. The entire gallery will spin a tale from the passage of time and people’s memories, on the overall theme of what changes and what doesn’t change after an event on a scale like that of 2011.
Message from the Artist
From production note for “Walking while thinking”:
Starting one particular day, we have lost truly many things.
To be honest, even before that day this was so, but from that day on, I think we suddenly remembered that we also “lost” the time period we ourselves had created.
Can we say for certain that no matter where you are born, no matter into what era you are born, life will always be the same?
We have now awakened from our dream.
While thinking it is better this way than just forgetting, we walk on the ground aimlessly.
Mieko Matsumoto
Mieko Matsumoto Photography Exhibition: “I know where here is.” Installation View
“Walking while thinking” Multi-slide projection, sound (2017)
“Walking while thinking” Multi-slide projection, sound (2017)
“The ocean moves” (1: Paleozoic Gondwana supercontinent’s ocean floor or Mt. Takasuzu)
“Walking while thinking” Multi-slide projection, sound (2017)
“Walking while thinking” Multi-slide projection, sound (2017)
“Walking while thinking” Multi-slide projection, sound (2017)
“Walking while thinking” Multi-slide projection, sound (2017)
“The ocean moves” (1: Paleozoic Gondwana supercontinent’s ocean floor or Mt. Takasuzu)
“Walking between ships” (2014)
“Mountain phantom” Multi-slide projection, sound, lambda print KENPOKU ART 2016 (2016)
Mieko Matsumoto
Born in Ibaraki Prefecture in 1974. Graduated from the Department of Aesthetics and Art History of Jissen Women’s University in 1998. In 2005, received the Hirama Itaru Photo Award (Singpoosha) for “In lukewarm words.” She publishes works consisting of photographs and text on the themes of life and death or everyday events. Her major exhibitions to date include: “Criterium 68 MATSUMOTO Mieko” (solo exhibition at Contemporary Art Center, Art Tower Mito, 2006), “Mori Hanae and Friends” (Omotesando Hanae Mori Bldg., 2010), “Eizo 2013” (Setagaya Museum, 2013), “Starting point, forever.” (Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, 2014), etc. She has also participated in Naka-Boso International Art Festival, Ichihara Art x Mix, Tottori Geiju Festival, KENPOKU ART 2016, and 2017 Saga Dish & Craft. Since July she has been participating in “Reborn-Art Festival 2017” (Ishinomaki). Her major publications include “Living,” a collection of her photographs accompanied by poems by Shuntaro Tanikawa (Nanaroku-sha).
Organizer: Guardian Garden
Cooperation: Epson Sales Japan Corp., Horiuchi Color Ltd., Takuto Shiromaru (music production)
