A large-scale photography exhibition tracing the journeys and expressions of Japanese female photographers from the 1950s to the present day, titled "The Miracle of the Gaze: The Adventures of Japanese Female Photographers," will open on July 4th at Hikarie Hall on the 9th floor of Shibuya Hikarie. The exhibition is organized by Bunkamura.

This exhibition is the Japanese edition of a world tour focusing on Japanese female photographers. In addition to the 26 photographers who participated in the tour held in Europe and the United States, four more photographers—Hisako Imai, Ai Iwane, Aya Fujioka, and Tomoko Yoneda—have been added, bringing the total to 30 photographers and showcasing approximately 200 works.

Exhibition view of "The Miracle of the Gaze: The Adventures of Japanese Female Photographers" Photo by: Yuya Furukawa

The exhibition will showcase works by female photographers that capture themes such as memory, the body, everyday life, and gender from their unique perspectives. In addition to installations by Ai Iwane, Hiroko Komatsu, Yuki Tawada, and Yurie Nagashima, the exhibition will also feature unique projects specific to Japan, such as Tomoko Sawada's audience-participation piece "OMIAI♡" and video projections by Rinko Kawauchi and Mika Ninagawa.

This exhibition traces the creativity and challenges of women in photographic expression, offering an opportunity to re-examine the history of Japanese photography from the postwar period to the present day from a new perspective.

Photographer Miyako Ishiuchi (left) and curator Mariko Takeuchi (right), who will be holding a talk event on July 4th.

Numerous related events will be held during the exhibition period. On July 4th, a commemorative talk will be held featuring photographer Miyako Ishiuchi and Japan exhibition curator Mariko Takeuchi. On July 12th, there will be a talk event with Miwa Yanagi and Mari Katayama, and on July 26th, there will be talk events with Tokuko Shioda and Rika Noguchi, and with Rinko Kawauchi and novelist Mariko Asabuki. Participation fee is 500 yen (tax included, exhibition admission ticket required separately), and advance reservations are required.

In addition, Bunkamura Gallery 8/ on the 8th floor Shibuya Hikarie will host "STILL/LIFE: In the Afterglow of Silence," a special exhibition by seven female photographers. At "8/COURT," on July 4th, 11th, and 12th, a variety of related events will be held, including cross-talks by Yurie Nagashima x Ayaka Wada (LOLOET), Aya Fujioka x Saho Terao, and Yui Kiyohara x Yukkyun x Kimi Idonuma, as well as live performances by Ikuko Harada (Clammbon) and Uki, a photobook fair, and workshops.

Furthermore, the small museum "MINA (Museum of Imaginary Narrative Arts)" in Shibuya, Shibuya Ward, will host a solo exhibition by exhibiting artist Yurie Nagashima titled "before the dog, behind the cat," and "Bunkamura Le Cinema Shibuya Miyashita" will also hold related screening events. In total, various programs will be developed throughout Shibuya that allow visitors to experience the charm of photographic culture.

Admission fees are 2,200 yen for general admission, 1,500 yen for those under 30, university students, and vocational school students ("U-30 discount"), and 1,000 yen for high school students and younger.

Opening hours are 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM (last entry at 6:30 PM). The event runs until August 26th. Open every day during the event period.

As a related project to the exhibition, the "Shibuya Shoto Wall Gallery" has opened on the temporary construction fence of the "Shibuya Upper West Project," which is being developed on the former site of the Tokyu Department Store main branch. The first installment features newly commissioned works by Rinko Kawauchi (until September 30th).

Venue