HKFP Lens: Japanese photographer Yasuhiro Ogawa showcases 30 years of darkroom prints from across Asia

In a series of darkroom prints shot during his travels throughout Asia over the past 30 years – encompassing China, Myanmar, India, Cambodia and beyond – Japanese photographer Yasuhiro Ogawa captures his emotions during his travels, conveying a sense of serenity and freedom. In developing his negatives, Ogawa brought back the memories of his backpacker days, reliving old dreams.

© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Guatemala, 1997, [The Dreaming, pg 0010] - cover of book — Photo: Yasuhiro Ogawa.

Ogawa’s exhibition will debut at the Blue Lotus Gallery in Pound Lane, Sheung Wan, on April 1, his first solo exhibition in Hong Kong. It is based on his latest book The Dreaming, published in February 2020 in a small print run of 500 copies. The prints to be shown in the exhibition were all developed by the artist himself in a darkroom.

© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Mt Kailash pilgrimage route, Tibet, China, 1998 [The Dreaming, pg 030] — Photo: Yasuhiro Ogawa.

“My work is not about documenting the world,” said Ogawa. “It is about looking for, and capturing emotions. I hope the viewer can feel some emotions too when watching my work.”

Ogawa was born in Japan’s Kanagawa prefecture in 1968 and now lives in Tokyo.

© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Ladakh, India, 1994, [The Dreaming, pg 094] — Photo: Yasuhiro Ogawa.

“When I look at this work, I think of the words of the iconic Hong Kong photographer Fan Ho: ‘The magic of the black and white lies in the distance to reality, it is in that space that poetry exists,'” said Sarah Greene, founder of Blue Lotus Gallery. “This is what Ogawa understands very well.” The gallery also represents the works of Fan Ho and his estate.

© Yasuhiro Ogawa, courtesy of Blue Lotus Gallery, 'untitled', Ladakh, India, 1994, [The Dreaming, pg 058] — Photo: Yasuhiro Ogawa.

Ogawa’s exhibition “The Dreaming” will be on display from April 2-25. It will be accompanied by an online discussion with the photographer on April 10 and a series of film photography workshops with Mike Epstein. More details on the photography book here.