By capturing the "river of darkness" that quietly exists 5 meters underground, beneath the bustling metropolis of Shibuya, Tokyo, where many people carry out their daily lives above ground, the film exposes the unseen underside of the city.
The inorganic concrete and pipes underground, and even the moss and mold that grow there, exude a unique beauty in the silence.
This book is an important work that symbolizes the consistent theme of Naoya Hatakeyama, who has continued to explore the relationship between cities, civilization, and humans and nature.
●2001: Won the 42nd Mainichi Art Award
[Title] Underground / アンダーグラウンド
[Publisher]
Born in 1958 in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture.
He studied under Seiji Otsuji at the University of Tsukuba, and after graduating, he has been based in Tokyo, continuing to present works that explore the relationship between nature, the city, and photography.
In particular, he is known for his works that feature artificial landscapes inherent in the Japanese landscape, such as the limestone mines that spread near his hometown, urban underground waterways, dams, and factories.
In 2001, he was selected as the Japanese representative for the Venice Biennale, and he has also addressed social themes, such as photographing his hometown of Rikuzentakata, which was affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.
He was awarded the Purple Ribbon Medal in 2015.
Currently, he serves as a professor at the graduate school of Tokyo University of the Arts, and is dedicated to nurturing the next generation not only as a photographer but also as an educator.
In 1997, he won the 22nd Kimura Ihei Photo Award for his photo collection "LIME WORKS," among other works.
In 2001, he won the 42nd Mainichi Arts Award for "Underground."
