Moriyama, Daido | Passage 4, 1998-1999 — available on Composition Gallery

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Unique black and white Polaroid; Signed by the artist.

Hemmed between concrete walls, a narrow Tokyo passage surrenders to the slow encroachment of potted plants and climbing foliage, their leaves softening the hard geometry of the built environment. A graffiti tag marks one wall; cracked pavement records years of neglect; a sign or awning hovers at the corridor’s far end. Shot in black and white, this unique Polaroid belongs to Moriyama’s earlier Passage series and distills his enduring fascination with the city’s interstitial spaces — those overlooked seams between buildings where urban life persists in its most unguarded, tenacious form.

Daido Moriyama (Japan, 1938) is a trailblazing Japanese photographer known for his gritty, high-contrast black-and-white street photography. Influenced by post-war realism and the Provoke movement, his work captures the raw energy of urban life. Moriyama often uses a compact camera and grainy film to create a spontaneous, immersive aesthetic.

Daido Moriyama

Passage 4, 1998-1999

Name: Passage 4, 1998-1999
SKU: 17641
Price: 995.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Form

Photography

PhotographyPhotography is the process of creating an image on light sensitive materials. The image is produced by using a camera, which has a lens that focuses on light either reflected or emitted from an object. These visible wavelengths are used to reproduce the image seen.

Medium

Polaroid

Polaroid A Polaroid print is an instant photograph produced using a Polaroid camera, which develops the image immediately after exposure. The camera's internal processing allows the photograph to develop and appear within minutes. The term Polaroid is also used more generally to refer to instant photographs and films produced by similar technologies.

Edition

Unique work

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●Inventory 17641

●Signed

Photography

Polaroid

USD 995

Daido Moriyama

How to Create a Beautiful Picture 6: Tights in Shimotakaido, 1987/2011

Photography

Daido Moriyama (b. 1938 Japan) is a pioneering figure in post-war Japanese Photography, known for his raw, grainy, and high-contrast black-and-white images. Working primarily in urban environments, Moriyama captures fleeting moments of everyday life, often exploring themes of memory, decay, and the fragmented nature of reality. He emerged during the 1960s with the Provoke movement, which challenged traditional photographic norms and embraced a more subjective, impressionistic style. His use of a handheld camera and quick shooting methods contributes to a sense of immediacy and disorientation in his work. Deeply influenced by both American street photography and Japanese avant-garde art, Moriyama’s practice questions the reliability of images and embraces imperfection. His impact on contemporary Photography is significant, with a legacy that bridges East and West, tradition and rebellion. (Artist Website)

Artwork by Miles Aldridge

What is contemporary art?

Contemporary art refers to avant-garde or innovative art created in the recent past or present day. The exact starting point of contemporary art varies depending on the institution, often tied to the founding year of museums or galleries that showcase the style. Contemporary art is characterized by its focus on current ideas, diverse media, and the exploration of new concepts and techniques.

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Daido Moriyama

Passage 4, 1998-1999

10.5 x 8.5 cm

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Daido Moriyama