Masahisa Fukase

author · photographer

Masahisa Fukase (1934–2012) was a radical and experimental Japanese photographer known for his emotionally intense and often raw photographic style. Born in Hokkaido into a family of photographers, he studied at Nihon University and worked in advertising before becoming a freelance photographer in 1968. He emerged as a significant figure in post-war Japanese photography, particularly through his association with the 'Provoke' era. His work is characterized by a deep, sometimes obsessive exploration of personal relationships, domestic life, and nature, exemplified by his series on his wife Yōko, his parents' photo studio, and his extensive series on crows and cats. His distinctive aesthetic, which often utilizes blur, high contrast, and unconventional framing, reflects a profound psychological depth.[1,2,4,5]

Themes

  • domestic life
  • obsession
  • nature
  • abstract photography
  • Provoke movement

Works by Masahisa Fukase

  • The Strawhat Cat 1979 · Bunka Shuppankyoku · book · Japanese Also known as 'Neko no mugiwara boshi'. Third in the 'Cat' series.
  • Yoko 1978 · Asahi Sonorama · book · Japanese A definitive series documenting his relationship with his wife.
  • Ravens 1975 · book · English Originally published as 'Karasu'.

Exhibitions

  • 2023 Masahisa Fukase 1961-1991 Retrospective Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Tokyo solo
  • 2021 Sasuke - The Eye of Photography Atelier EXB solo

References

  1. Masahisa Fukase. Wikipedia link
  2. Biography. Masahisa Fukase Archives link
  3. Past exhibition - Foam. Foam link
  4. Masahisa Fukase. Archivelight link
  5. Fukase Masahisa. National Museum of Asian Art. Smithsonian link