Spider's Strategy - A Publisher's Eye on Japan

In the organizer's words:

With reference to the highly acclaimed publication "Spider's Strategy" by photographer Kanemura Osamu, the exhibition presented by Kunsthaus Lempertz provides an insight into the recent history of Japanese photography. The works come from the collection of Roland Angst (1944-2022), a trained graphic designer who has run a publishing house and gallery for photography and photo books in Berlin under the name ONLY PHOTOGRAPHY since 2008. In addition to the more than 60 photographs, several photo books will be presented.

The exhibition focuses on works created in the 1970s, 1990s and 2000s. Representative of the early phase are works by Suda Issei, who began working as a photographer for the pioneering experimental theater group Tenjô Sajiki in 1967. After leaving the troupe, Suda later traveled throughout Japan and created outstanding series in which he captured views of everyday life, festivals and city life with great precision.

In the 1990s, works from the series "Spider's Strategy" by Kanemura Osamu took center stage. Published in 2001 and accompanied by an essay by architect Isozaki Arata, the illustrated book features 80 black-and-white photographs of Tokyo's urban landscape, which is criss-crossed by an endless web of wires, objects and infrastructure. The photographs show forms and structures that condense like a spider's web and in this way convey a new visual experience of the ultra-modern metropolis.

In the 2000s, the exhibition focuses on works by Okahara Kôsuke, who began his career as a photographer after studying education. In long-term projects, Okahara often deals with the stories of marginalized social groups, including migrant workers and girls who exhibit self-harming behaviour. For his projects, he has traveled to Sudan, Burma and Colombia, among other places.

The show features works by the following photographers:
ANRAKUJI Emi (*1963), HAMAYA Hiroshi (1915-1999), HIBI Yûichi (*1964), HOSOE Kenji (*1963), ICHIMURA Tetsuya (*1930), ISHIMOTO Yasuhiro (1921-2012), KANEMURA Osamu (*1964), KAWAUCHI Rinko (*1972), MIYAMOTO Ryûji (*1947), NAGANO Yôichi (*1968), OKAHARA Kôsuke (*1980), ONAKA Kôji (*1960), ORIMOTO Tatsumi (1946-2025), SHIBATA Toshio (*1949), SUDA Issei (1940-2019), TAKANASHI Yutaka (*1935), TÔMATSU Shômei (1930-2012), YAHAGI Kôichirô (1930-2010), YANAGISAWA Shin (1936-2008).

The exhibition is a collaboration with Kunsthaus Lempertz and The Photobookmuseum

Price information:

Free admission, please note that the institute is closed Mon - Fri between 1 and 2 pm.