FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASETOSHIYUKI NANJO SOLO EXHIBITION

shelterbelt - straight / sporadic
Venue:HRD Fine Art(494-1 Kamigoryo-tatemachi, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto)

Date:

December 19, 2020 – January 30, 2021

Hours:

Thu: 11:00am - 3:00pm / Fri & Sat: 11:00am - 7:00pm(Sun-Wed: Open by prior appointment only / Closed: Dec 31, 2020 - Jan 2, 2021)*****
HRD Fine Art is pleased to announce a solo exhibition of photographer Toshiyuki Nanjo,

titled “shelterbelt - straight / sporadic” as its last exhibition in 2020 and the first in 2021. About 20
works of photograph will be displayed at this exhibition, showcasing the scenes of seaside forest
planted throughout Japan, including those taken in the areas affected by the Great East Japan
Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011.
Born in Tokyo in 1972, Nanjo has been avidly working on landscape and nature
photographs, producing refined and quietly rigorous works that, at the same time, leave poetic
reverberations. In addition to his quintessential “suns” series that captures the traces of sunlightreflected on moving water surface, in recent years Nanjo is working on a new series that focuses on
seaside forest, or shelterbelt.
Shelterbelts are the transformed nature; they are artificial forests planted and maintainedby humans. Shelterbelts started to appear in Japan’s coastline regions around 17th century. Trees
that can thrive in sterile seaside soil, such as pine, were selected for the purpose of creating barriers
between man’s living spaces and the beachside area, blocking wind, sand, and salt blowing in fromthe sea. Nowadays they have somewhat different functions; some of these forests are even protected
as part of natural environment preservation. Some recent arguments claim that the traditional
Japanese views on nature are based on symbiotic coexistence and totally differ from those in theWestern culture. However, Nanjo challenges such a one-sided perspective by alluding to thecomplexity hidden behind the shelterbelts.
What is nature? What is artificial? What makes them beautiful? Toshiyuki Nanjo’s
photographic works shake and rattle our observation toward nature, transforming and enriching it.
*****
A photo book will be published that focuses on "shelterbelt" series as part of theexhibition project. More information about the publication will be announced soon.

[ ARTIST’S STATEMENT ]Often referred to as “white sand, green pines,” shelterbelts are viewed as one of thesceneries that symbolize harmony and coexistence between Japanese people and nature. However,the shelterbelts are not really historical; most of them started to appear around as recent as 17thcentury. Many of those forests have disappeared due to events including the Meiji Restoration, theGreat Depression, and the World War II. In the post-war era, people started planting the seaside
forests again, but these new shelterbelts are thicker and denser than before, some of which
completely block the sight. Pine forest restoration projects are in progress in the areas affected by
the tsunami that ensued the Great East Japan Earthquake, which however seem to result in highlyorganized, uniform structures.
Looking at the pine trees distorted and slanted by relentless sand and wind, another sideof “Japanese views on nature” comes to light. And I feel the need to make subtle, detailed
observations toward the relations between Japanese people and nature.
Toshiyuki Nanjo*****
For further information or for artwork images please contact us:- Phone: +81-90-9015-6087- Email: info@hrdfineart.com- Website: www.hrdfineart.com

[ ARTWORKS ]shelterbelt motoyoshiwara 2017
inkjet print

22.5x30cm

2017

shelterbelt kisakata 2019
inkjet print

32.2x43cm

2019

[ ARTISTS’ BIOGRAPHY ]Toshiyuki NANJO
1972

Born in Tokyo

1994

Graduated from the Department of Photographic Engineering, Tokyo College of
Photography Faculty of Engineering

Lives and works in Kanagawa
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2012“New Works” Space O'NewWall, Seoul

2014“Slithy Mirror” mujikobo, Yokohama

2015“suns” HRD Fine Art, Kyoto

2017“suns / signs / spectators” HRD Fine Art, Kyoto

Selected Group Exhibitions
2008“Blue Dot Asia” Seoul Arts Center, Seoul“Let There Be Light” Gallery Hangil, Paju, Korea

2008-09“Floating Odyssey 2008” Waterloo Gallery, London / Exhibit Live & Moris, Tokyo /Book House Art Space, Paju, Korea

2009“Yoin / Hibiki: Works of Three Japanese Photographers” Hyun Gallery, Seoul

2010“Nagameru-Manazasu Division-3” Up Field Gallery, Tokyo

2014“Changwon Asia Art Festival” Sungsan Art Hall, Changwon, Korea“Out of Photographs #3”mujikobo（横浜）2015“Mirror - Reflected Images” Kawasaki City Museum, Kawasaki

2016“CORRESPONDENCE LANDSCAPE 016” Gallery Kobo Chika , Tokyo

2019“Boundaries: Photographic Expressions from Japan and Germany” HRD Fine Art, Kyoto

Public Collections
Kawasaki City Museum, Kawasaki

[ NEW CORONAVIRUS COUNTERMEASURES ]HRD Fine Art implements the following countermeasures to prevent the spread of the newcoronavirus as we restart our exhibition program at the gallery.
i. Suspension of opening receptions
Previously, we used to host opening reception parties for our exhibitions held in the gallery tofacilitate communication between the artists and the audience. However, to ensure safety of thevisitors, we will suspend opening receptions for the time being.
ii. Body temperature measurement, facemasks, and hand disinfection
We kindly ask all visitors to measure their body temperature prior to their visit (on the same day).
In some cases we might kindly request to measure the guest’s body temperature using non-contact
thermometer. Anyone with the body temperature at 37.5℃ or higher, or anyone with respiratory
symptoms such as coughing, will not be permitted entry to the gallery. All visitors are kindly
requested to wear a facemask at all time during their visit. Please contact us beforehand if you
cannot wear a facemask due to specific health condition. Visitors shall disinfect their hands before
they enter the gallery using alcohol-based hand sanitizer provided by the gallery.
iii. Limited number of people allowed in the gallery at once
In order to avoid congestion, we might ask visitors to wait outside the building until other visitors
already in the gallery finish viewing the exhibition and leave.
iv. Possibility of temporary closure of the gallery or shift to appointment-only system
As a result of close monitoring of the pandemic situation and in order to safeguard all people
involved in a more secure manner, HRD Fine Art might temporarily close its door and suspend theexhibition program altogether, or introduce an appointment-only system without prior notice or on
short notice. We will make sure to notify such changes as swiftly as possible through channels that
include our website (www.hrdfineart.com) and social media.
Thank you for your kind understanding and cooperation!