The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in Sydney is presenting "Hiroshi Sugimoto: Time Machine," an exhibition that delves deeply into the work and practice of the renowned Japanese photographer. Sugimoto’s art is characterised by his exploration of time, memory, and the essence of reality through meticulously crafted black-and-white photographs.
Exploring Time and Reality
Sugimoto's work often bridges the past and present, creating a dialogue between historical and contemporary contexts. His Dioramas series, for example, captures life-sized displays from natural history museums. By photographing these staged scenes with a large-format camera, Sugimoto brings an uncanny realism to the images, challenging the viewer's perception of reality.
Iconic Series
- Dioramas: These photographs create a hauntingly lifelike quality, making the artificial appear real.
- Theaters: Sugimoto uses long exposures to photograph movie theaters, turning the screens into glowing white rectangles. This technique captures the entire duration of a film in a single frame, symbolizing the passage of time.
- Seascapes: In these serene images, Sugimoto captures the ocean’s timeless and meditative nature. Each photograph is composed with a horizon line dividing the sea and sky, emphasizing simplicity and tranquility.
- Portraits: This series features wax figures of historical and famous figures. Sugimoto’s meticulous lighting and composition blur the line between reality and illusion, making these lifelike sculptures appear almost real.
This exhibition runs from 2 August – 27 October 2024
For more information, visit the MCA's official exhibition page.
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