“Silent respiration of forests”, an exhibition by Takeshi Shikama
Photographs of forests taken in various parts of the world over the past ten years by the Japanese photographer can be seen up until the 7th of March, 2014
The Sala Polivalent of the Gas Natural Fenosa main offices is hosting an exhibition of 50 small-format photographs by Japanese artist Takeshi Shikama. Taken in forests of the USA, France and Japan over the last decade and curated by Alain D’Hoogue, Murmuris del bosc is an exhibition of the latest work created by the ex-designer turned photographer who, tired of the cacophony of metropolitan life, decided some years ago to live in a log cabin he built himself and now spends his time travelling the world in search of what he calls “the silent respiration” of forests and exhibiting the results. In addition to forests, he also photographs “urban forests” such as Central Park in New York and the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris.
Shikama’s photographs are printed on traditional Japanese rice paper, called Gampi, which he crafts himself together with platinum emulsion in order to lend body to even the most subtle nuances and details captured on the film. The black and white images of the forests are impregnated with the pictorial tradition of the Far East. They are both infused with serenity and invite contemplation while containing references to European and North American landscape photography.
Shikama himself also cites the influence of 19th century photographic pioneers such as Carleton Watkins, Eadweard Muybridge, Charles Nègre and Eugène Atget.