Hidden Japan: Black-and-white photographs by Kijuro Yahagi
6 August to 5 September 2010

The exhibition "Hidden Japan: Black-and-white Photographs by Kijuro Yahagi" is jointly presented by the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong, the Japan Foundation and the Museum and Art Gallery of The University of Hong Kong from 6 August to 5 September 2010. This collection of photographs promises to please both laymen and avid art lovers in Hong Kong because it conveys metaphorical ideas that go far beyond pure aesthetics.

Born in 1952, Yahagi has won many prizes in art and design competitions. He undertook a long meaningful journey throughout Japan from modern and overdeveloped places such as Tokyo to pristine beatific old parts of the country. Thus the photographs convey two contradictory visions of Japan: the modern image with its grand-looking buildings and high-pace lifestyle and the traditional one with its gardens, temples and natural peacefulness. They reveal Yahagi's idea of the conflict between humans and nature. On display are landscapes, metropolitan areas, traditional and modern architecture as well as sacrilegious places of worship.

"Hidden Japan" has toured the USA, Canada, France, Malaysia, Vietnam, New Zealand, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Iran and Sri Lanka.