TOMOHIDE IKEYA

1974 Born in Kanagawa, Japan

2000-2001 Tokyo College of Photography

2001 Assistant to Katsuji Takasaki

2002 Start working as a Freelance

Solo Exhibition

2021 "remembrance" YOSEIDO(Tokyo)

2019 "水蛇龍" TokyoArtsGallery(Tokyo)

2019 “MOON” Vanilla Gallery(Tokyo)

2018 “BREATH” Micheko Galerie (Munich)

2016 "WAVE" Gallery Kogure (NY)

2016 "WAVE" LOWER AKIHABARA. (Tokyo)

2016 "OCEAN" Hotel & Residence Roppongi (Tokyo)

2016 "BREATH" Toyama Glass Art Museum (Toyoma)

2015 “BREATH - MOON ”Vanilla Gallery(Tokyo)

2015 “CYCLE” Micheko Galerie (Munich)

2015 "BREATH" Soiz Galerie (Passau)

2013 “BREATH” Tokyo Arts Gallery（Tokyo）

2013 “MOON” GALLERY KOGURE(Tokyo)

2013 “BREATH” Alternative Space in SEIBU Shibuya (Tokyo)

2012 “BREATH”&”MOON” Micheko Galerie (Munich)

2010 “BREATH” Micheko Galerie (Munich)

2010 “BREATH” LOWER AKIHABARA.(Tokyo)

Group Exhibition

2023 “THE YEN CONNECTION” MEDEL GALLERY SHU(Tokyo)

2023 "icon contemporary Photography 2023" AXIS Gallery(Tokyo)

2023 “BEYOND THE AGES/PORTRAIT” Sansiao Gallery(Tokyo)

2022 "icon contemporary Photography" AXIS Gallery(Tokyo)

2020 "Paradise Lost" Vanilla Gallery(Tokyo)

2019 ”Japanese Nudes” Japanmuseum SieboldHuis (Leiden)

2018 “Jin-Zo” Emon Gallery (Tokyo)

2018 “FINE LINE” sansiao Gallery HK(HongKong)

2017 "Waves and Emotions" Micheko Galerie (Munich)

2017 “GOTH II - Conception” Vanilla Gallery(Tokyo)

2015 “DROPS” H.P.FRANCE WINDOW GALLERY MARUNOUCHI（Tokyo）

2013 "Mujo-kan" Galerie Da-End (Paris)

Awards

Moscow International Foto Awards 2014 Bronze in a Book - Fine Art for “BREATH”

International Photography Awards 2012 2nd place in People (other) for "MOON”

PX3 PRIX DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE PARIS 2010 2nd place in Fine art (nudes) for "BREATH"

Xto image award 2010 1st place in Body in Nature for “BREATH”

International Photography Awards 2009 2nd place in Special (moving images) for "BREATH”

International Photography Awards 2009 1st place in People (other) for "BREATH”

PX3 PRIX DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE PARIS "WATER" Competition 2008 Honorable Mentions for "WAVE"&"BREATH"

International Photography Awards 2007 1st place for "WAVE”

Artist’s statement

Fascinated by the duality of water, its life-giving yet life-destroying presence, I am inspired by it and explore its philosophical aspects. I feel that my affinity for water is influenced not only by my upbringing on the island nation of Japan, but also by the ever-changing natural environment of abundant water due to active volcanic activity and tsunamis caused by 20% of earthquakes (magnitude 6 or greater) that occur in the world. In the ancient Japanese Shinto religion, death was considered a part of nature and coexisted with water. Water, which has given birth to numerous civilizations, reflects the moment of interwoven awe at the grandeur of nature and the unknown of death.

Underwater photography is subject to a variety of constraints, including safety, limited movement, and the effects of air bubbles, light, and waves. Within a limited time frame, these factors must be accounted for, and split-second decisions must be made regarding composition, light, and timing, while remaining flexible to the uncertainties that may arise in the field. Furthermore, by incorporating the element of coincidence, dramatic works can be created that transcend calculation. It is an expression of the human quest for the unknown and the strength of creativity in the face of uncertainty, while at the same time underscoring the importance of capturing the fleeting beauty of the moment.

My work is influenced by a variety of art forms, including ukiyoe, Renaissance art, and sci-fi animation. A moment created by chance is often linked to these works of art. The fusion of a deep-seated fear of death and familiar culture, whether unconsciously or consciously, makes the work more accessible. For example, the bubbles in "BREATH" resemble stars in outer space, and the waves in "WAVE" resemble the ukiyoe prints of Katsushika Hokusai. The ukiyoe-like expression, in which the background is stripped of detail, is also a continuation of the uniquely Japanese flat pictorial expression. In the past, photographic expression was limited by the medium in which the image was captured, but advances in digital technology have greatly expanded the range of expression. I use a variety of mediums in my work, and many of the works in "BREATH" are made with plaster. Plaster, which has excellent humidity control and hardens over time as it breathes, is the perfect support for frescoes and embodies the fusion of Renaissance art and photography.

The models include dancers, performers, and athletes active in various fields, such as Ikuyo Kuroda, Daisuke Yoshimoto, Nobuyoshi Asai, Mimosa Koike, Aoi Yamada, Renshi Chokai, Tomohiko Tsujimoto, and Ryuzo Shinomiya. They play an important role in expressing the space between life force and death underwater. For example, the supple movements of the dancers express the dynamism of life, and the powerful bodies of the athletes symbolize the strength of human beings in the face of the fear of death.

Through my work, I want to express the beauty of the contradictory existence of life and death in water, and the fragility and strength of human existence. Death is inevitable, but that is why life is so brilliant and precious. Through the universal theme of water, I explore the essence of human nature and the meaning of life, aiming to create works that will deeply move viewers.

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