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Daido Moriyama

(Ikeda, Osaka, 1938 - )

Shinjuku (Dolls in window)

2002 (printed 2009)

Gelatin silver print

60 x 40 in. (152.4 x 101.6 cm)

Collection of the Akron Art Museum

Knight Purchase Fund for Photographic Media

2009.106

More Information

Daido Moriyama wanders the streets of Shinjuku, his Tokyo neighborhood, taking pictures. “It may look like I’m just pointing the camera at what’s in front of me,” the artist says. “But I’m trying to photograph what people see but don’t notice—something that’s mysterious and unknown in everyday life.” Moriyama is drawn to the unrelenting energy of Shinjuku, which is home to the world’s busiest railway station, offices and shopping, as well as bars, clubs and brothels. To make this image, the artist photographed a window display featuring characters from a video game. The photograph’s high contrast, grainy texture and off-kilter framing are signature elements of Moriyama’s style.

Keywords
Photography
Black and White
Japan