Miro Ito

Signsofthe Intangible

Body-m ind-scapes of Japan’s

14 0 0 Years of Per for m ing A r ts

Signs of the Intangible is a collectionof photographs by photo artist, Miro Ito,
which captures the historyof Japan’s 1400-year mind-and-body-unity culture
from a unique perspective.
This volume includes 106 photographswith new and unpublished works.
It also serves as the catalogue
accompanying the international
exhibitions series.

Noh play Hagoromo(Noh actor, Hodaka Komparu photographed by Miro Ito)

Signs of the Intangible
by Miro Ito

Body-mind-scapes from 1400 years of performing arts in JapanFor many years, photo artist and author, Miro Ito has been exploring signs of the intangible as
she uses her camera to capture transformations in body culture in her photographic series
which she calls body-mind-scapes of prayer and dedication as well as expressions ofenlightenment—including Buddhist statues and objects of worship that are designated as
National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties of Japan.
Ito has also explored the history of Japanese performing arts and their lineage from theancient Silk Roads.
From Gigaku, the oldest known Eurasian mask theatre which arrived in Japan 1400 years
ago—of which only some masks survive today—to the Bugaku dance and mask culture that
integrates various ancient court performing arts and music: now defunct in continental Asia, toNoh that developed into theatrical drama in the 14th/15th century, and to contemporary
avant-garde Butoh: a quest for the soul as an eternal light in body culture; Ito has depicted theintangible side of spirituality and turned it into photographic masterpieces.
This photo book which conveys a part of the author’s journey to the body-cosmos serves
as a catalogue accompanying the world travelling exhibition Signs of the Intangible. This is aportfolio with new and unpublished works, including Quick Silver (mercury), a collaboration
with Butoh dancer Ko Murobushi, which became the ofﬁcial image of the Venice Biennale(dance section) in 2006—accompanied by the author’s newly-written art essays.
This photo volume invites viewers to immerse themselves in 1400 years of Japanesephysical expression, illuminated by the centuries-old light of East-West exchange along the SilkRoads.
Miro Ito
Andreas Boettcher
Dedication:
Akiko Moriyama (Musashino Art University [currently Kobe Design University])
Cover Design:
Chieko Saito (sacco)
Languages:
English/Japanese
Publisher:
Media Art League LLC
Edited by:
Japan Authentic Heritage Initiative
Publication Date:
30 January, 2023
Softcover Book-on-demand Production: 152 pages (85 photographs [+21 photographs in essays])
Unit Price:
JPY10,000（tax excluded price)

Official image of 2006 Venice Biennale Dance (Biennale Danzia)
Quick Silver performed by Ko Murobushi

Photographs & Text
English Editor:

Identification:

ISBN978-4-9912957-0-6 C0072

Dimension:

W22cm × H30.7cm (W8.66in×H12.09in）

Reading Age:
13 years and up
Photographic permits byTōdai-ji Temple; Kasuga-Taisha Shrine; Nara National Museum; Setagaya Kannon-ji
TempleParticipating Performers:

Hodaka Komparu (Komparu school Noh actor)
Yukifusa Takeda, Tomoyuki Takeda, Fumiyuki Takeda (Kanze school Noh actors)
Ko Murobushi, Goro Namerikawa, Tamara Yamaguchi, Koichi Tamano (Butoh dancers)
KiK_7, Giga Hizume& Sal Vanilla (Butoh company)
Shunso (contemporary dancer/ ballet dancer)
Important Cultural Properties of Japan (owned by Tōdai-ji Temple):

9 Gigaku masks (Suiko-ō, Suiko-jū (3 types), Konron, Karura, Chidō, Rikishi, Taikofu/8th century) and 1 Bugaku mask (Ryō-ō/13th century)
Important Cultural Properties of Japan

6 Bugaku masks (Sanju, Korobase, Chikyū, Shintoriso, Nasori/12th century;
Kitoku-Koikuchi/16th century)
Proceeds from the sales of photo books will fund public relations activities for Japanese culture and thecreation of supporting media such as books and films, to promote awareness for Japanese culture around theworld. These will also be available for collaboration with museums and educational/research institutions
worldwide.
For Purchase/Inquiry
Japan Authentic Heritage Initiativejapan-authentic-heritage-initiative.org/en
info@japan-authentic-heritage-initiative.org

Gigaku mask: Sui ko- ô, Important Cultural Property of Japan
8th century (Collection of Tōdai-i Temple)

Proﬁle of Miro Ito photo artist & author
Miro Ito has been involved in media and art projects ascreator, producer & director with the aspiration topromote peace and understanding through her art
initiatives. As a photo artist, Ito has held over 30 solo
exhibitions in 12 countries, partly co-organised by theMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan; diplomatic missions
abroad; the Japan Foundation; Japan Camera Industry
Institute, etc. She has also been active in the USA since2000 where she held various exhibitions (incl. at Lincoln
Center). She studied Aesthetics & Art History at Tokyo’s
Keio University and Applied Arts & Photography at theFolkwang University of the Arts (Germany). Today she isincreasingly active worldwide. Besides ﬁlm productions,she has published 9 books.
Ofﬁcial site mediaartleague.org/en