AWARDS

Born in Tokyo in 1977.  Walked through from Arctic to Antarctica in 2000 and succeeded in climbing the highest mountains in seven continents making him the youngest to do so in 2001.  Graduated from Waseda University, School of Humanities and Social Sciences through the night course.  Completed the latter doctoral semester at Tokyo University of the Arts, the Graduate School of Fine Arts in 2008.  Being interested in cultural anthropology and folklore studies, he traveled across vastly different fields such as the highest peaks of the world, remote regions, and urban areas and compiled them into photographic works presenting them to the world. 

In 2008, he won the Photographic Society of Japan’s Newcomer Award and Kodansha Publication’s Culture Award for Photography for his “NEW DIMENSION” (AKAAKA Art Publishing) in which he traveled through prehistoric murals all over the world and “POLAR” (Little More) taking a close-up look at the great nature of the Arctic Circle and its inhabitants.  Won the Higashikawa New Photographer Award in 2009 for his active works including “Mt. Fuji” (Little More) capturing Mt. Fuji as a mountain not to gaze but to climb.  Received Domon Ken Award in 2011 for his “CORONA” (Seidosha) examining the history and people’s lives on the islands of the South Pacific.  Produced many photography books such as the Himalaya series, “Lhotse” “Makalu”(SLANT) focusing on 8000m peaks and won the Photographic Society of Japan’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his “EVEREST” (CCC Media House) and “MAREBITO” (Shogakukan) in 2020.  He also received Kaiko Takeshi Non-fiction Award for his  book “The Last Adventurer” (Shueisha) pursuing the life of an invincible adventurer, Kanda Michio. 

His major solo exhibitions include “JAPONÉSIA” (Japan House Sao Paolo, Museu Oscar Niemeyer, Brazil, 2020-21), “Capturing the Map of Light on This Planet” (Art Tower Mito, Niigata City Art Museum, Ichihara Lakeside Museum, The Museum of Art, Kochi, Kitakyushu Municipal of Art, Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, 2016 -19), “K2” (CHANEL NEXUS HALL, Tokyo, 2015), “ARCHIPELAGO” (Okinawa Prefectural Museum, 2010).  His works are housed in Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Yokohama Museum of Art, Okinawa Prefectural Museum etc. 

Involved in the project “Shashin Zero Banchi Shiretoko” in which they discover and disseminate the charm of the Shiretoko Peninsula, East Hokkaido to the world, holding photography exhibitions, workshops, talk shows and so on.

Artist Statements

 I have been traveling for nearly 30 years since I was a teenager. As I repeatedly perceive and digest the world through my own body, sharing my experiences with others has become an important part of my work.

        As the number of treasured friends and places I call home in the Japanese archipelago gradually increases, the Shiretoko Peninsula is like my starting point. I’m very happy that what I have been doing steadily over the years through photography has been gradually reaching more people, and that it has come to be recognized in Higashikawa. Thank you very much.

ISHIKAWA Naoki