Japanisches Kulturinstitut Exhibition “Spectres”
Intercultural Dialogue through Nakazato Katsuhito and Thomas Bergner’s Photo Exhibition
April 21st, 2023
The Spectres exhibition showcases the photographic works of two artists, Nakazato Katsuhito and Thomas Bergner, in an exchange between German and Japanese perspectives. The Japanisches Kulturinstitut exhibit encourages through its artworks intercultural dialogue to all the visitors at the venue in Cologne upon their free entrance.
Thomas Bergner, born in Plauen in 1985, lives and works in Leipzig and Nuremberg. He studied under Heike Baranowsky at the Academy of Fine Arts in Nuremberg, where he now teaches photography. His first book, "Internalized Kami," explores the intensity with which photographers and viewers interact with images in the digital world, capturing the viewer's attention with his unique style.
Nakazato Katsuhito, born in 1956 in Mie, Japan, is an honorary professor of photography at Tokyo Zokei University. His first photographic book, "The man-made wilderness of Tokyo Bay," was published after graduating from Hosei University in 1978. Nakazato's art is directed towards the emotional states between nature and urban life, which he often showcases in unique locations like empty shops or former residential buildings.
The Spectres exhibition explores the fascinating magic of the night as both photographers wander through cities and deserted landscapes, capturing the light of darkness through artificial lights, wire fences, paths, and trails.
Moreover, it highlights the contrasting principles of nature and civilization, presenting a unique and intriguing perspective that draws the audience's attention.
The photographers' art not only captures these landscapes but also tells stories that engage the viewer's imagination and encourage personal interpretations. Specters is an exhibition filled with atmosphere and condensed emotions, seducing the audience with the art of photography.
Lastly, the Spectres exhibition is a collaboration with the Kunsthaus im KunstKulturQuartier Nürnberg and is part of the Internationale Photoszene Köln. The exhibit invites the audience to embark on a journey of contrast, where they can experience the magic of the night and the beauty of contrasting principles through the lens of the two renowned photographers.
