Category Archives: photograph

Edited Black and White Images

All derivatives from Dyed Threads series.
From top:
Spider Lily – early sketch, monochrome (2015)
Wing Diptych 1 (2015) The bird was photographed in September 1999, and became the inspiration for the Wing Dress series.
Spider Lily – study, monochrome (2015)
Wing Diptych 2 (2015)
Wing Diptych 3 (2015) The drawing was of an imaginary wing, and preceded the Wing Dress series.
Dragon Dress Diptych (2015)
Dragon Dress Prototype (2015) The dress in the photo was created around 1999-2000 with fabric marker as the first experiment for the Dyed Threads series.

Sunken Feathers

Various images of the Ocean are layered over feather drawings originally created for my “Wing Dress” series.

The Ocean has been my muse, especially for the dress series, and during a long creative process my daily visit to the water fed me visions and the energy that deepened and lightened me simultaneously.

These images are my attempt at somehow capturing the mystery I’ve witnessed while by, on or in the Sea.

水中で撮った海の画像を、『Wing Dress』シリーズの羽根の絵に重ねた連作。

シリーズ製作中に毎日訪れ、その過程で作品、作者両方をかえていった、海の深さやおおきさの持つ不思議な影響力を、畏怖と賛美を込めて形にしようと試みたもの。

From top:
Underwater Sky 2 (2015)
Sped (2010)
Teal (2009)
Shore (2011)

Following two:
Underwater Sky (2010)
Flight (2015)

Clouds in both “Underwater Sky” were photographed looking up through the water during mid summer.

「Underwater Sky」の歪んだ雲は夏空を水中から撮影。

Last Edited: November 27, 2020

Light Calligraphy

Unlike a more popular approach to light calligraphy that is to move a flashlight while in long exposure, I swing my camera-arm around instead in a way much similar to ink calligraphers with enormous brushes.
I do this solely on my impulse, often times with my eyes closed, as there is no way for me to pre-plan or monitor what is being drawn.

Many of the resulting images (including the pieces presented here) have composition that require no cropping. Some of them even turn out to have resemblances to my past paintings.

Opportunities for light calligraphy arrive spontaneously.
The experience always had enlivening effect on myself and some of those who happened to witness seemed to have joined me in the enthusiasm with curious sort of excitement.

長時間露光と懐中電灯でパターンを描く通常のやりかたではなく、カメラを書道家の筆の様に使い、完全にインスピレーションに頼り（多くは目を閉じた状態で）撮影したもの。

ここに紹介した作品を含めほとんどはトリムの必要を感じさせず、また自作の絵に似通った出来上がりとなったものもある。
通常技術で仕上がりを予測する事を重んじる『写真』という表現形態への、いわば正反対からのアプローチ。

From top:
Moon (2011)
Candle Night (2010)
Light House (2011)
Design District, San Francisco (2011)

Last Edited: November 17, 2019

Pool Series

Taken with single-use waterproof camera.

I, a life-long swimmer, who find the most out-of-ordinary images while swimming, one day decided to record what is really taking place at a common neighborhood swimming pool.

In purified moments of simple awe, I witnessed even a symbol like the cross could escape the weight of history and merge into the otherworldly.

真夏の市営プール、というごく一般的な舞台の文字通り水面下で随時繰り広げられる非日常。長年泳ぎ続けた作者にとっては見慣れた光景を、ある日思い立って使い捨てカメラで記録し始めた。

カメラ持ち込み禁止にもかかわらず、作者の「奇行」を数年に渡り多めに見てくれたプール管理者様に心よりお礼を申し上げます。

Pool Series (1999-2004)
From top:
Graveyard
Burning Cross
Three Crosses
Single Cross
Diagonal

The series was exhibited at Create:Fixate Photography Show, September 2006, Los Angeles, curated by Jason Elias.

Last Edited: November 27, 2020

Monochrome 1982

Taken during a short while I spent at photography school in Tokyo, early 1982. Re-discovered by myself sometime in 2009.

1982年春から夏にかけての写真を学んでいた短い期間に撮影したもの。 長年しまい込んでいたが2009年の自分に発掘され、自らの高い評価を得るに至った。

From top:
Datsun Lot (Yokosuka, Tokyo)
Dog (Nichinan, Miyazaki)
Rain on a Rail (Tokyo, Jppan)
Lavatory Mirrors (Kanda, Tokyo)
Camel (Nichinan, Miyazaki)
Station (Miyazaki, Japan)
Three Girls in Matching White Blouses (Miyazaki, Japan)
Best Friends Forever (Ibaraki, Japan)
Don’t Ever Change (Ibaraki, Japan)

Last Edited: November 27, 2020

Yuko Nagai. Artist.

Visions and Artworks.

Category Archives: photograph

Edited Black and White Images

Sunken Feathers

Light Calligraphy

Pool Series

Monochrome 1982