Nobuyoshi Araki (born May 25, 1940) is a prominent Japanese photographer and contemporary artist known for his bold explorations of love, death, eroticism, and the intimacy of everyday life. He graduated from Chiba University's Faculty of Engineering in 1963, where he studied photography and film-making. Araki began his career working at the advertising giant Dentsu, a period he describes as his 'training era,' during which he experimented with handmade photo books and diverse photographic techniques. His work is deeply rooted in the visual culture of Tokyo, particularly its history of desire and entertainment. He has published over 500 photobooks, including seminal works like 'Sentimental Journey' (1971). Araki's practice often involves a deep, personal relationship with his subjects, capturing both the ordinary and extraordinary aspects of human existence through a lens that balances fiction and reality.[1,2,8,9,10]
Theater of Love2011 · Taka Ishii Gallery / Zen Foto Gallery · book · English, JapaneseCollection of unpublished cabinet size photographs taken around 1965 during his Dentsu years.
Sentimental Journey1971 · bookFollows the couple's honeymoon from an extremely personal viewpoint.
Xeroxed Photo Albums1970 · book26 volume set self-published using facilities at Dentsu.
Exhibitions
2011Theater of LoveTaka Ishii Gallery Photography / Film, Tokyosolo
