Naoya Hatakeyama: Excavating the Future City

Japanese photographer Naoya Hatakeyama has been photographing the life of cities and the built environment for thirty years. His work focuses on the growth and transformation of the urban landscape, including studies of architectural maquettes, the extraction and use of natural materials, and human intervention with the landscape and natural materials. His most recent photographs of his hometown of Rikuzentakata, a fishing town that was almost completely destroyed by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami, embody the death and rebirth of the city.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 282 pages
Publication date: 05 April 2018
Publisher: Aperture

For the past thirty years, Japanese photographer Naoya Hatakeyama has embarked on an extensive photographic exploration of the urban landscape and its built environment. His artistic journey has taken him on a profound journey, delving into various aspects of the growth and transformation of cities. Through his lens, Hatakeyama has meticulously documented the intricate details of architectural maquettes, capturing the intricate designs and engineering marvels that shape the urban landscape. He has also explored the extraction and utilization of natural materials, such as limestone, which is quarried through explosive blasts and subsequently incorporated into the construction of new buildings.

In particular, Hatakeyama has maintained a close relationship with the Tokyo-Yokohama metropolis, delving into its ever-evolving urban sprawl from both ground-level and aerial perspectives. His meticulous mapping of these sites over time has shed light on the growth and expansion of these urban areas, providing a unique insight into the dynamic nature of cities.

Furthermore, Hatakeyama's artistic exploration extends beyond the urban realm. He has also focused on other forms of human intervention with the landscape and natural materials. His series "Factories and Building Sites in Japan and Abroad" showcases the industrial and construction sites that dot the landscape, capturing the intricate processes and machinery that shape the built environment.

However, Hatakeyama's most recent series, "Photographs of Rikuzentakata," takes on a particularly poignant and personal dimension. This ongoing series began almost immediately following the devastating March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which almost completely destroyed the fishing town of Rikuzentakata. Through his photographs, Hatakeyama captures the hauntingly beautiful aftermath of the disaster, manifesting a deep connection to the ongoing intersection of geology, architecture, and time.

These photographs evoke a sense of death and rebirth, as they portray the city's resilience and the human spirit's ability to rebuild in the face of adversity. They serve as a powerful testament to the enduring power of the human connection to the natural world and the complex interplay between geology, architecture, and time.

In conclusion, Naoya Hatakeyama's photographic examination of the life of cities and the built environment has been a remarkable journey of exploration and discovery. Through his meticulous attention to detail and his profound connection to the urban landscape, he has captured the essence of growth, transformation, and human intervention. His photographs of Rikuzentakata, in particular, embody the death and rebirth of the city, manifesting a deeply personal connection to the ongoing intersection of geology, architecture, and time. Hatakeyama's work continues to inspire and challenge us to reimagine our relationship with the built environment and the natural world.

Weight: 1476g
Dimension: 299 x 222 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781597114325