Kitajima Keizo was born in Nagano Prefecture, Japan in 1954. In the 1970s, he chose to study law in college, but dropped out after only one year. The reason was very simple. Kitajima's innate unruly character could not settle down and follow the rules. He found that photography could better express himself and explore life.
When he picked up the camera in his hand, his life was like a wild horse that broke out of the reins, and he broke into another sky with full firepower. At that time, he participated in a photography school led by radical photographers such as Moriyama Daido and Tomatsu Shoji, and became one of Moriyama Daido's students. Fortunately, It was the right way. Moriyama's aesthetic thinking was very fit to his taste.
The next year, he founded CAMP Gallery with Moriyama Daido and others. Modern urban life changes in an instant, information emerges and disappears, and the reason why people are human, their existence, value beliefs, etc. are wrapped and alienated by the city under consumerism. During this period, Kitajima's photography style was avant-garde, and radical street shooting was his creative practice at the time.
Kitajima Keizo, an artist who has left a deep mark on the world of photography, began his journey of photographic exploration in 1975 until 2022. His works during this period are like a vivid chronicle, recording the vicissitudes of the times, the various forms of life in the world, and the myriad features of nature.
In 1975, Kitajima attended Daido Moriyama's class at the Workshop photography school. The school was founded by some members of the Provoke after the magazine ceased publication. Meeting Daido Moriyama was of great significance to him, and Daido Moriyama became his lifelong teacher. In 1976, Moriyama and Kitajima founded the Image Shop Camp in Shinjuku, Tokyo, which was one of the many artist-run galleries at the time. It was an exhibition space, darkroom, and base camp for like-minded photographers.
At the exhibition, the carefully displayed photographs seemed to be quietly telling the artistic journey of Kitajima. His early works showed his bold exploration of photographic language, full of innovative composition and unique use of light and shadow, as well as his unique perception and interpretation of the world. As time went by, his mid-term works gradually showed a deeper connotation, capturing the moments of life of people from different cultures and regions through the lens, showing the common emotions and values of mankind. The late works are the embodiment of Keizo Kitajima's artistic attainments reaching the realm of perfection. The pictures contain profound thoughts on life, nature, and the universe, and every detail exudes the charm of art.
The opening ceremony was hosted by Lai Wei, the manager of 5A1 Art Space. He coordinated and invited Keizo Kitajima himself to attend the ceremony and explain to the Chinese audience the original intention and process of the creation of the work UNTITLED RECORDS.
When sharing his creative insights, Kitajima Keizo said that this was his first visit to China in 30 years and also his first exhibition in China. This exhibition gave him a new understanding of his own works. At the same time, he felt the enthusiasm from Chinese photographers and was looking forward to the exchanges in the next three days.
As the chief curator, Mr. Chun Wai delivered an enthusiastic speech: "Mr. Kitajima has a keen eye and is very demanding in the presentation of his works, whether in terms of the composition of the picture or the use of light and shadow. His photographs are not only records of images, but also the crystallization of his love and thinking about the world. This exhibition gives us the opportunity to deeply appreciate the changes in his artistic style in different periods, and how he uses the lens to construct a colorful visual world."
After the opening of the exhibition, there will also be a three-day art photography workshop course. This is an rare opportunity to have the opportunity to listen to this eyewitness of the golden age of Japanese photography sharing his life and creative experience. In addition, the exhibition "Keizo Kitajima: Journey of Photography 1975-2022" will be open until December 2, providing the audience with an excellent opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Kitajima Keizo's photography art.
