The Japan Society is delighted to invite members to a guided tour of Hiroshi Sugimoto at Hayward Gallery, the largest survey to date of the internationally renowned artist.

Over the past 50 years, Sugimoto has created some of the most alluringly enigmatic photographs of our time: pictures that are precisely crafted and deeply thought-provoking, familiar yet tantalisingly ambiguous. Featuring key works from all of the artist’s major photographic series, this survey exhibition highlights the artist’s philosophical yet playful inquiry into our understanding of time and memory, and the ambiguous character of photography as a medium suited to both documentation and invention.

This event is a great opportunity to view the works with the guidance and insights of Hayward Gallery Assistant Curator, Thomas Sutton, who leads us through the exhibition discussing the artist, ideas and techniques behind the artworks. 

Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, Hiroshi Sugimoto divides his time between Tokyo and New York City. Studying economics and Western philosophy, he received a B.A. from St. Paul’s University in Tokyo in 1970, and in 1974 obtained a B.F.A. in photography from Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. Over the past five decades, his photographs have received international acclaim and have been presented in major institutions across the globe.

Whilst best known as a photographer, Sugimoto has more recently added architecture and sculpture to his multidisciplinary practice and has been the artistic director and producer of a number of theatre/dance performances.