TOMOKO NAGAKAWA
(JAPAN)
Based in Buckinghamshire, UK, and born in Tokyo, Japan (1973), Tomoko Nagakawa is a photographer whose work transcends
traditional boundaries of visual art.
Nagakawa employs printing techniques on carefully chosen surfaces to create minimalist yet imaginatively expansive objects. These works act as evocative starting points, inviting open interpretation and introspection. Her practice delves into awakening the unconscious from silence, encouraging a profound sense of connection to the invisible.
At the heart of Nagakawa's artistic process lies a focus on creating tactile objects that resonate with our physical senses. Central to her work is the act
of using her own hands, which she describes as akin to “letter writing.” This metaphor encapsulates her thoughtful approach: selecting inks and materials
as if choosing the perfect letterhead, hoping to discover the right “words” to convey a thought while envisioning the recipient.
Her process involves laying emulsion with the rhythm of her own breathing, embedding her existence into the very fabric of the work. Like letters,
her creations carry a deliberate slowness, allowing time and thought to travel alongside them until they reach their intended destination.
Through her photography, Nagakawa seeks to reclaim fleeting moments, elusive sounds, and forgotten sensations, capturing them in a tangible form.
Her work embodies the delicate interplay between the physical and the ephemeral, creating a space for reflection and connection.
