Kyoto
on stainless steel Photograph printed on stainless steel
Nicolas Ruel first travelled to Japan in 2009 as part of the 8 secondes project (now Cityscape). 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. 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. Here, it is women who shine, occupying the photographic space in its entirety.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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