‘The Dreaming’ reminisces of Ogawa's travels over the last 30 years. Albeit not told through an accurate description of the places visited in South East Asia or Latin America, but by means of the decanted emotions distilled by his photographs, those of a youthful wanderlust turned nostalgia.
Despite the sense of solitude and the mysterious and contrasty black and white images, Mr. Ogawa’s photographs retain an atmosphere of untroubled serenity. The image of a train passing through the mountains in the distant horizon (one of the last frames) and all the roads and railway captures interspersed through the book, altogether stand for life’s journey in general and, in particular, for the artist’s voyage into the new and unknown.
As per, Mark Pearson, expert in Japanese photobooks: ‘Ogawa’s photographs succeed in a difficult task: capturing the world as otherworldly and fascinating as it can truly be.’ For the artist, revisiting his negatives felt like reliving an old dream.
But for many of us, these images will echo the feeling of care free travel: the sensation of freedom, longing and waiting… simply feeling alive… something we, for now, can only just but dream about.
Yasuhiro Ogawa was born in 1968 in Kanagawa prefecture, Japan. He has had solo and group exhibitions including Futashika-na-Chizu at Kodak Photo Salon, Tokyo (1999), Slowly Down the River at Nikon Salon Ginza, Tokyo (2006), Winter Journey at Doozo Gallery, Rome (2013), Caascade at Sokyusha Gallery, Tokyo (2018) and Contes des iles et Paysages de la Mer du Japon at Inbetween Gallery, Paris (2018). He has published five photo books such as Slowly Down the River (Creo, 2008), Shimagatari (Sokyusha, 2014), Cascade (Sokyusha, 2017), By the Sea (self-published, 2018) and The Dreaming (Sokyusha, 2020).
He has won several awards including the Taiyo Award for his first solo exhibition Futashika-na-Chizu (2000) and The photographic Society of Japan New Comer Award for his first book Slowly Down the River. He was a finalist at the Oskar Barnack Award (2006) and the Hayashi Tadahiko Award (2015). He currently lives in Tokyo.
More information:
Yasuhiro Ogawa | THE DREAMING
Exhibition Dates: 9 April – 2 May 2021
Venue: Blue Lotus Gallery, G/F 28 Pound Lane, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
bluelotus-gallery.com
![© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'train passengers', Shimane Japan, 2009 [The Dreaming, pg 023] - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong | Exhibition Highlight - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong](/content/v1/51e2f86de4b0180cf3be09fe/1618216042649-KDD2FYL17V0U44HF3VSK/© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'train passengers', Shimane Japan, 2009 [The Dreaming, pg 023].jpg "Enlarge © Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'train passengers', Shimane Japan, 2009 [The Dreaming, pg 023].jpg")
![© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Aizu, Fukushima, Japan, 2018 [The Dreaming, pg 024] - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong | Exhibition Highlight - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong](/content/v1/51e2f86de4b0180cf3be09fe/1618216044171-FR4KUV52YWU8K5GJATNG/© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Aizu, Fukushima, Japan, 2018 [The Dreaming, pg 024].jpg "Enlarge © Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Aizu, Fukushima, Japan, 2018 [The Dreaming, pg 024].jpg")
![© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Aizu, Fukushima, Japan, 2018, [The Dreaming, pg 097] - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong | Exhibition Highlight - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong](/content/v1/51e2f86de4b0180cf3be09fe/1618216047772-WMUMKR7APVKUK1G75DOG/© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Aizu, Fukushima, Japan, 2018, [The Dreaming, pg 097].jpg "Enlarge © Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Aizu, Fukushima, Japan, 2018, [The Dreaming, pg 097].jpg")
![© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Along the Mogami River, Yamagata, Japan 2010, [The Dreaming, pg 063] - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong | Exhibition Highlight - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong](/content/v1/51e2f86de4b0180cf3be09fe/1618216050766-7C520ADJ44T29ZBSXWVJ/© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Along the Mogami River, Yamagata, Japan 2010, [The Dreaming, pg 063].jpg "Enlarge © Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Along the Mogami River, Yamagata, Japan 2010, [The Dreaming, pg 063].jpg")
![© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Guatemala, 1997 [The Dreaming, pg 018] - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong | Exhibition Highlight - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong](/content/v1/51e2f86de4b0180cf3be09fe/1618216049162-ONUB6B6GE18C2RC6060Z/© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Guatemala, 1997 [The Dreaming, pg 018].jpg "Enlarge © Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Guatemala, 1997 [The Dreaming, pg 018].jpg")
![© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Guatemala, 1997, [The Dreaming, pg 0010] cover of book - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong | Exhibition Highlight - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong](/content/v1/51e2f86de4b0180cf3be09fe/1618216051198-MQPDIWC4ZJ9CGCQW33OD/© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Guatemala, 1997, [The Dreaming, pg 0010] - cover of book.jpg "Enlarge © Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Guatemala, 1997, [The Dreaming, pg 0010] - cover of book.jpg")
![© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Guatemale, 1997 [The Dreaming, pg 051] - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong | Exhibition Highlight - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong](/content/v1/51e2f86de4b0180cf3be09fe/1618216052099-PG0OUB766WCTHDJIACDY/© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Guatemale, 1997 [The Dreaming, pg 051].jpg "Enlarge © Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Guatemale, 1997 [The Dreaming, pg 051].jpg")
![© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Heilongjiang, China, 2011 [The Dreaming, pg 012] - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong | Exhibition Highlight - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong](/content/v1/51e2f86de4b0180cf3be09fe/1618216054487-GDPB4OSQNQ11ADNW9G8T/© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Heilongjiang, China, 2011 [The Dreaming, pg 012].jpg "Enlarge © Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Heilongjiang, China, 2011 [The Dreaming, pg 012].jpg")
![© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Heilongjiang, China, 2011, [The Dreaming, pg 0011] - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong | Exhibition Highlight - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong](/content/v1/51e2f86de4b0180cf3be09fe/1618216053864-3JWLMEEPDEOK59EQQP3D/© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Heilongjiang, China, 2011, [The Dreaming, pg 0011].jpg "Enlarge © Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Heilongjiang, China, 2011, [The Dreaming, pg 0011].jpg")
![© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Heilongjiang, China, 2011, [The Dreaming, pg 013] - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong | Exhibition Highlight - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong](/content/v1/51e2f86de4b0180cf3be09fe/1618216054742-AC3MP622O9P1HQFEQWTN/© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Heilongjiang, China, 2011, [The Dreaming, pg 013].jpg "Enlarge © Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Heilongjiang, China, 2011, [The Dreaming, pg 013].jpg")
![© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Heilongjiang, China, 2011, [The Dreaming, pg 090] - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong | Exhibition Highlight - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong](/content/v1/51e2f86de4b0180cf3be09fe/1618216055295-EJNPR85RWUBQAN69399N/© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Heilongjiang, China, 2011, [The Dreaming, pg 090].jpg "Enlarge © Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Heilongjiang, China, 2011, [The Dreaming, pg 090].jpg")
![© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Ladakh, India, 1994, [The Dreaming, pg 058] - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong | Exhibition Highlight - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong](/content/v1/51e2f86de4b0180cf3be09fe/1618216056123-530QRL493HS3CMQ4WAIH/© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Ladakh, India, 1994, [The Dreaming, pg 058].jpg "Enlarge © Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Ladakh, India, 1994, [The Dreaming, pg 058].jpg")
![© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Ladakh, India, 1994, [The Dreaming, pg 094] - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong | Exhibition Highlight - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong](/content/v1/51e2f86de4b0180cf3be09fe/1618216057134-UNCM44OUJ4RA04SFXLMP/© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Ladakh, India, 1994, [The Dreaming, pg 094].jpg "Enlarge © Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Ladakh, India, 1994, [The Dreaming, pg 094].jpg")
![© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Mt Kailash pilgrimage route, Tibet, China, 1998 [The Dreaming, pg 030] - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong | Exhibition Highlight - Yasuhiro Ogawa in Hong Kong](/content/v1/51e2f86de4b0180cf3be09fe/1618216057512-S5P5I2PZ793J0KLOAY6H/© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Mt Kailash pilgrimage route, Tibet, China, 1998 [The Dreaming, pg 030].jpg "Enlarge © Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Mt Kailash pilgrimage route, Tibet, China, 1998 [The Dreaming, pg 030].jpg")