Hiroshi Sugimoto

Hiroshi Sugimoto, born in Tokyo in 1948, is a Japanese photographer and architect known for his exploration of themes related to time, memory, and the nature of reality. He initially studied economics at St. Paul's University in Tokyo before moving to Los Angeles in 1971 to pursue a BFA in Fine Arts at the Art Center College of Design. Sugimoto settled in New York City in 1974, where he also worked as a dealer of Japanese antiquities. His multidisciplinary practice extends to sculpture, performing arts production, and architecture, leading the Tokyo-based architectural firm New Material Research Laboratory. Sugimoto's photographic career, active since the 1970s, is characterized by a meticulous approach and the use of a large-format camera, often employing long exposure times. This technique allows him to capture the essence of his subjects, creating images that blur distinctions between the real and the fictive. His key photographic series include "Dioramas" (begun 1974), "Theaters" (begun 1976-1978), "Seascapes" (begun 1980s), and "Architecture" (begun 1997). He has received numerous awards, including the Hasselblad Foundation International Award in Photography in 2001 and the Praemium Imperiale Award for Painting in 2009. His work is held in the collections of institutions such as MoMA, the Metropolitan Museum, and the Art Institute of Chicago.