The Urban Monochromes of Osamu Kanemura Learning About Master Photographers 05

Learning About Master Photographers 05
The Urban Monochromes of Osamu Kanemura

Introduction
"Good morning, everyone. In today’s session on contemporary Japanese photography, we’ll be examining the work of Osamu Kanemura. While many photographers seek to capture the 'beauty' or 'order' of a city, Kanemura is renowned for his uncompromising focus on what he calls the 'excess' of urban spaces. To understand his work, we must first look at the unique visual language he developed during the late 20th century."

The Aesthetics of Clutter
"Kanemura’s photographs are almost exclusively in monochrome. This choice is not merely for nostalgic reasons; rather, it serves to strip away the distractions of color, forcing the viewer to confront the sheer density of the frame. His primary subject matter consists of the tangled power lines, cramped alleyways, and industrial sprawl of Tokyo and its suburbs.

Unlike his predecessors who might look for a 'decisive moment,' Kanemura’s images often feel devoid of a central focal point. In his view, the city is an overlapping mess of structures where nothing takes precedence. This technique effectively mirrors the claustrophobic reality of modern urban living. Critics often point out that his work reflects a 'system out of control'—a recurring theme in his various collections."

Technical Approach and Philosophy
"Now, let's delve into his technical process. Kanemura famously uses medium-format cameras—specifically the Plaubel Makina 67. One might assume this choice is to achieve 'perfection,' but for him, it’s about the sheer volume of information he can capture while maintaining enough mobility to navigate the streets.

By utilizing a high level of detail, he ensures that the viewer’s eye has no place to rest. Every cable, every sign, and every brick is rendered with equal intensity. Furthermore, it’s worth noting his stance on 'human presence.' You’ll notice that people are rarely the subjects of his photos. However, the city itself is presented as a living, breathing organism—or perhaps more accurately, a self-proliferating machine. He suggests that the city is not something built for humans, but rather something that grows independently of human intent."

Influence and Legacy
"Kanemura’s work has had a profound impact on how we perceive the urban landscape. He challenged the traditional notion that photography should be 'compositionally balanced.' Instead, he embraced cacophony. For students of photography, his work serves as a reminder that the medium can be used to document not just what we see, but the underlying chaos of our environment.

In the next part of the lecture, we will compare his 'monochrome' approach with the more colorful, yet equally chaotic, works of his contemporaries. But for now, I’d like you to consider: does a photograph need a 'subject' to be meaningful?"

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Visuals:
Original Street Photography by Urban City Lens

A Quick Note on the Images:
All street photos shown are my own work,
used to visualise the topic.
They are not the work of the famous photographer
being discussed in the audio.

#camera #モノクロ #写真