/// Nobuyoshi Araki (jap. 荒木 経惟 Araki Nobuyoshi; * 25. Mai 1940 in Minowa, Tokio) ///

Nobuyoshi Araki stands as being one of the most controversial contemporary photographers who challenges our preconceived ideas of art vs pornography. Often his works depict women tied / bound and hanging half naked: naturally giving him the misogynist status amongst many feminists. It is a difficult one to shout really, does he deserve this title? And decidedly more importantly, who gives him this title? Through researching this, it is Western criticism which draws in the majority of the shots... now, this is not intended to be a post which enters into the dialectics of post-colonialism and feminism, but it is interesting to me that in watching Arakimentari (2004, Travis Klose, 85 min), however bias it may be, the queues of women - literally lining the corridors, just waiting to get one photograph taken by Araki, speaks volumes?

In an interview between Nan Goldin and Araki (read here) she writes:

‘In Japan, where women’s roles are in a period of flux and the idea of female identity in the Western sense is a new one, many young women find Araki’s images liberating. To show their bodies, to flaunt their sexuality, feels like freedom; teenagers flock to Araki to be photographed by him.'

(from Nan Goldin 'Naked City')

Perhaps there is something slightly misogynistic and perverse about Araki's work, at least it definitely makes for an easy interpretation. I can't help but feel that there is much more complexity to Araki's work and find it somehow compelling....
Despite all of his disputed works, Araki remains as one of my favourite photographers. For me, the concentrated interest in his controversial works, overlooks some of the most talented works in photography. His 'normal' photographs pay attention to the small things, the things we notice but do not notice - (yes it may well be the tried-and-tested foolproof photographers cliché) - but there is something slightly haunting about his photographs.

Two of his most wistful series of works, and the most poignant, (both series published into books) Sentimental Journey and Winter Journey (1991): Sentimental Journey is a photograph collection from their honeymoon and Winter Journey - perhaps the most deeply melancholic of the two - is this set of photographs, best described as a photo diary, portraying his wife Yoko's last days (she died from a terminal illness) through her funeral and a bit after.

I am not usually one for such a tragic romantic narrative, but maybe it's because this is not a fictional one. For me, each photograph encompasses his absolute suffering as he prepares and battles with a very real sense of loss, pain and love... it is almost desolate or devoid or perhaps almost empty, and for me it is one of the most unreserved and honest accounts of someone's isolated contemplation....