Kyoto
Nicolas Ruel first travelled to Japan in 2009 as part of the 8 secondes project. This initial contact with Japanese culture led him to Matsuri, a folklore-inspired photography project that had a profound effect on him. Six years later, still haunted by the yearning to capture the world of flowers and willows, the photographer has undertaken tireless efforts to make his dream a reality. Combining lyricism and mystery, his photos offer a bold re-interpretation of the sacred sites, gardens, and tea houses where Japan’s tea hostesses live and work.
Against all odds, these remarkable and courageous women have perpetuated their rituals into the 21st century. As a powerful symbol of their country’s quintessential arts and customs, geishas have become the stewards of Imperial Japan’s artistic, cultural, and feudal traditions. Together, they glorify all the arts, including dance, music, calligraphy, ikebana, and the tea ceremony. As for the kimono, it is an ever-present and unrivalled work of art that the photographer has elegantly melded with young girls’ faces in compositions where butterflies and lotus flowers hold pride of place.
In Nicolas Ruel’s work, people shine with a heightened presence, owing to his skilful handling of the themes of unity, time, and space. Here, it is women who shine, occupying the photographic space in its entirety. Their gestures, their adornments, their magnetism capture the viewer’s gaze. The technique of prolonged daytime exposure has never been used to such poetic and sensual effect. These semantically cohesive photos are truly a showcase for a resolutely singular vision.
EMIYO
2015
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
Photograph printed on stainless steel
NABUKO
2015
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
Photograph printed on stainless steel
KATSURU
2015
36 x 24 in / 91 x 61 cm edition of 5
60 x 40 in / 152 x 102 cm edition of 5
72 x 48 in / 183 x 122 cm edition of 1
Photograph printed on stainless steel
ODORIKO
2015
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
60 x 60 in / 152 x 152 cm edition of 1
Photograph printed on stainless steel
SETSUNA
2015
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
Photograph printed on stainless steel
NATSUKI
2015
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
60 x 60 in / 152 x 152 cm edition of 1
Photograph printed on stainless steel
SHOFUSO
2015
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
60 x 60 in / 152 x 152 cm edition of 1
Photograph printed on stainless steel
AYUKA
2015
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
60 x 60 in / 152 x 152 cm edition of 1
Photograph printed on stainless steel
ASUNA
2015
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
60 x 60 in / 152 x 152 cm edition of 1
Photograph printed on stainless steel
DAICHI
2015
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
60 x 60 in / 152 x 152 cm edition of 1
Photograph printed on stainless steel
NESUJINJA
2015
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
Photograph printed on stainless steel
KIYOMI
2015
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
60 x 60 in / 152 x 152 cm edition of 1
Photograph printed on stainless steel
KIYOKO
2015
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
60 x 60 in / 152 x 152 cm edition of 1
Photograph printed on stainless steel
SETSUKO
2015
24 x 36 in / 61 x 91 cm edition of 5
40 x 60 in / 102 x 152 cm edition of 5
48 x 72 in / 122 x 183 cm edition of 1
Photograph printed on stainless steel
IKEBANA
2015
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
60 x 60 in / 152 x 152 cm edition of 1
Photograph printed on stainless steel
ONEESAN
2015
36 x 24 in / 91 x 61 cm edition of 5
60 x 40 in / 152 x 102 cm edition of 5
72 x 48 in / 183 x 122 cm edition of 1
Photograph printed on stainless steel
ASAMI
2015
24 x 24 in / 61 x 61 cm edition of 5
40 x 40 in / 102 x 102 cm edition of 5
60 x 60 in / 152 x 152 cm edition of 1
Photograph printed on stainless steel
AKIHABARA
2015
24 x 48 in / 61 x 122 cm edition of 5
40 x 80 in / 102 x 204 cm edition of 5
48 x 96 in / 122 x 244 cm edition of 1
Photograph printed on stainless steel