19 July 2004

University hosts Japanese photographic exhibition

The public will have the opportunity to see some of the most exciting photography to emerge from Japan at the only Scottish showing of an exhibition of Japanese photographic works at the University of Dundee. On loan from the Japan Foundation, the exhibition 'Counter Photography, Japan's Artists Today' introduces photographic works by 11 Japanese artists.

The exhibition has already toured with great success across Europe in Russia, France and Germany and is attracting interest in Dundee. The common theme of the exhibition is the photographer’s desire to capture a world invisible to the human eye - the world of 'the spirit'. Such an attitude reflects the propensity of the Japanese to perceive the spiritual aspect of life.

Artists include the renowned Michihiro Shimabuku who has taken a series of photographs and video footage in his search of deer, all the more astounding as there are no woodlands in the Japanese country town where he concentrates his search. Visitors can follow the story of his quest through his vivid photography and can discover if he ever did find the deer.

Akiko Sugiyama's unconventional abstract work is also on display including the striking 'In -spiral II' photograph.

The exhibition is free and open to the public. It is on display in the University's Lamb Gallery, First Floor, Tower Building and is open Monday - Fri 9.30am - 8.30pm and Saturday 9.30am - 4.30pm with free admission. For further details or a free exhibition catalogue please contact the exhibitions department on 01382 345330. The exhibition is open until 17th August

Notes to editors

THE JAPAN FOUNDATION
The Japan Foundation was founded in 1972 for the purpose of introducing Japanese culture overseas and deepening mutual understanding with other countries through the promotion of cultural exchange. The Exhibition Division serves as Japan's gateway to participation in international art exhibitions, such as the Venice Biennale, present its and past Japan's of manifestation symbolic physically a as art works introduce that exhibitions scale large organisation the in museums overseas with co-operation also Biennale, Paulo

The Foundation is also active in organising and circulating travelling exhibitions throughout the world made up of works from its own collections related to Japan's arts and culture. The travelling exhibition programme displays a diverse array of objects, from prints and photographs to traditional crafts, and contemporary posters.

For further information please contact the Exhibitions Department on 01382 345330

By Angela Durcan, Press Officer 01382 344910, out of hours: 07968298585, a.durcan@dundee.ac.uk