Richard Koek (Ilpendam, 1965) moved to New York to pursue his passion for photography. His photo books New York New York and Tokyo Tokyo were both published by Terra Publishers. Tokyo Tokyo presented Koek with a dilemma: ‘They say that language is the soul of a country, so how could I discover the soul of Tokyo if I didn’t speak the language? I relied on my eyes, a fine instrument for any photographer. I began comparing traditional Japan – kimono, sakura, sumo, shitiken (tea ceremony) – with the images everyone pictures when hearing “New York City”: yellow taxis, the Statue of Liberty, the neon signs of Times Square. I realized that this is a myth, a half-truth. It also gave me the motivation to bridge the gap by capturing more intimacy, such as in my visits to sumo wrestlers, people’s homes, and everyday rituals.’
By showing the familiar from a gentle perspective, Koek reveals the shared humanity behind urban life. The result is an image of Tokyo as a city full of organized chaos, in which people go about their daily lives: from work and commuting to caring for family and loved ones. For Koek, the soul of the city lies not in the exotic, but in the connection he makes with its inhabitants.
Until 6 September
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