The Katsura Detached Palace was originally built as the villa of the Hachijonomiya family (later the Katsuranomiya family) on the west bank of the Katsura River on the western outskirts of Kyoto in the early Edo period (17th century). The villa maintains the traditions of Japanese architecture, namely, simplicity and harmony with nature, in the composition of the Shoin-style buildings based on straight lines, the diagonal arrangement of its buildings, and the rhythmical arrangement of the stepping stones along the path.

 

The photographer, Ishimoto Yasuhiro, was given the Person of Cultural Merit Award by the Japanese Government.  Born in San Francisco, he studied at the Chicago Institute of Design (commonly known as the New Bauhaus), trained by Harry Callahan and Aaron Siskind. He set out on his first job to photograph the Katsura Detached Palace in the same year as he came back to Japan, in 1953.

 

The villa reminded Ishimoto of the essence of modern design with which he was familiar. The photographs that resulted were controlled, straightforward works, and the forms of the “things” and the formal viewpoint that sought the pure handling of the relationship between “thing” and “thing”--an almost firm, dry sensation--were striking, especially the sense of strain that these elements brought to the photographs.

 

This exhibition presents Ishimoto’s attempt to liberate tradition through a contemporary viewpoint. We hope this exhibition will offer all viewers a great opportunity to enjoy the beauty of a traditional Japanese palace rediscovered by a great Japanese photographer.

 

Schedule

Chicago, IL

Dates	February 18 - March 7, 2010  (Monday - Thursday 8:30am-6:00pm, Friday & Saturday 8:30am-5:00pm, Sunday 12:00pm-6:00pm)
Venue	Illinois Institute of Technology Paul V. Galvin Library 35 W. 33rd Street, Chicago, IL
Admission	free
Inquiries	Consulate General of Japan at Chicago  (Japan Information Center) 1-312-280-0430

 

Washington, DC

Dates	Thursday, March 18 &  Friday, March 19 Time TBD
Venue	Embassy of Japan, old residence of ambassador & tea house 2520 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20008 For details visit