Complex philosophical and artistic concepts, supplemented from his time studying sociology and politics at Rikkyo University as well as photographic technique at Art Centre College of Design in Los Angeles, made his work a platform for conceptual exploration. His inaugural collection, Dioramas (1976), pictured natural history displays as a demonstration of how the camera can infuse life, not just still it. Ever since, his exhibitions have incited lensmen, enthusiasts and, of course, the introspective to cross land and sea.
Looking out to sea — the waters which have transported people, cultures and stories across the globe over generations — was one of Hiroshi Sugimoto’s earliest experiences with consciousness.
Born in Tokyo, 1948, to a family who ran a beauty supply store in the city’s Taito Ward, Sugimoto’s fascination with science and the natural world began early. He was a voracious reader of Kodomo no Kagaku, a children’s magazine covering topics ranging from astronomy to engineering. By the time he began snapping railway trains and family vacations with his father’s Mamiya-6 camera in the seventh grade, his eye had already begun to notice the photograph’s immense storytelling power.
To continue reading our premium articles,
Upgrade your subscription to as low as $8.33/month to gain unlimited access to ALL of our premium articles!
Have an account? Sign In
