Hiroshi Sugimoto

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Through his expansive exploration of still images, internationally renowned artist and photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto has created some of the most enigmatic photographs of our time—meticulously crafted and deeply thought-provoking, familiar yet tantalizingly ambiguous. This comprehensive survey showcases work produced over five decades, featuring selections from Sugimoto’s major photographic series alongside lesser-known pieces that illuminate his innovative, conceptually driven approach. Contributions from international writers, artists, and scholars—including James Attlee, Geoffrey Batchen, Allie Biswas, and others—highlight his philosophical yet playful inquiry into representation and art, as well as our understanding of time and memory. Sugimoto's work reveals the paradoxical nature of photography, serving both as a medium for documentation and invention. Born in Tokyo in 1948, he studied sociology and politics before moving to Los Angeles in the early 1970s, where he earned a BFA from the Art Center College of Design. He settled in New York in 1974, creating his first series, Dioramas. His artistic interests encompass architecture, abstract forms, and intangible phenomena, fundamentally questioning the understanding of photography itself.