Ishiuchi Miyako: Photography Makes History | Louisiana Channel

“I can’t capture the past, but the things in front of me are an extension of the past.” Meet one of the most prominent figures in contemporary photography, award-winning Japanese photographer Ishiuchi Miyako. In this video, Miyako shares the story behind some of her most pivotal and pioneering works.
When she began taking photographs, Miyako enjoyed developing the pictures in the darkroom: “The darkroom was like a womb for me.” Inside it, she explains, she was cut off from the rest of the world: “And from there, a new world was born.” The photographer talks about the starting point of her career, ‘Yokosuka Story’ (1976-77), where she returned to the town of her childhood, Yokosuka, which had an American naval base: “I had been deeply wounded by that town. But after having taken photos of it, it was like a new start.” The photos became a way of retracing her steps to be able to move forward, which also became symptomatic of her following series, ‘Apartment’ (1977-78) and ‘Endless Night’ (1978-80). These projects, she feels, was like turning wounds into pictures: “All my feelings were printed in these photos.”
On the brink of turning forty, Miyako began thinking about how to capture time in her photography. The body, she resonated, accumulates time without letting it out. Hence, time is gathered in the body, which is why she began photographing the hands and feet of fifty women born the same year as her for ‘1·9·4·7’ (1988-89). Doing these photographs, she took an interest in scars, leading her on to the series ‘Scars’ (1991-2017): “Scars are almost like photos. Old photographs. Just like old photographs contain time, the scars are fixated on the body and become part of it.” Miyako also discusses her lauded ‘Mother’s’ (2000-2005) series in which she documented her mother’s possessions as a means of coming to terms with her death: “Things left behind when someone dies have been important for that person. But for other people, it’s just garbage. I really felt the sadness of these things.” Following, she was commissioned to photograph clothing worn by people during the Hiroshima nuclear bombing of 1945 (‘ひろしま / hiroshima’, 2007-2010): “The things in front of us contain the passage of time. They make you think about the meaning of time gone by. That is what I do with my photos,” she explains, adding that she has never subscribed to all the different photographic theories: “I just thought that photos would make history. I wanted to be someone who makes history.”
Ishiuchi Miyako (b. 1947) is a Japanese photographer. In 2005, Miyako represented Japan at the 51st Venice Biennale with her work ‘Mother’s’ (2000-2005). She has been the subject of solo retrospectives at the J. Paul Getty Museum (2015) and the Yokohama Museum of Art (2017), among others, and her work is held in the collections of MoMA in New York and the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Miyako’s accolades include the Kimura Ihei Memorial Photographic Award (1979), and the 2014 Hasselblad Foundation International Award in Photography.
Ishiuchi Miyako was interviewed by Mette Holm in her home in Kiryu, Japan in March 2020.
Camera: Yudai Maruyama and Yohei Haga
Produced and edited by Kasper Bech Dyg
Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2020
Supported by Nordea-fonden
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[@thelouisianachannel]

*Watch Ishiuchi Miyako's advice to young photographers right here:* kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKeqep19mtKAqKc

[@SuxxxMyDixxx]

"The darkroom is a womb." What a metaphor!

[@jiawenliTV]

She is doing the impossible here. Talking about photography without ever going into camera this and megapixel that. Thank you Miyako-san 🙏🏻

[@Supermatsch]

It's good but its fortunately the way how all photography artists talk like.

[@ehColors]

No just an $800 point n shoot 35mm camera though

[@robertocollo2890]

kzbin.info

[@denieriswanto9714]

Saya di akui sebagai seniman photography

[@zanerichards4305]

How is this impossible? Vision comes from the mind, not the tools you hold in your hand.

[@wichersham]

Now, she IS a real no-BS photographer. No camera no megapixel no equipment BS. All about image and philosophy. Kudos!!

[@RobertButts-mv3hl]

Spare us the f# up talk .. do you even no anything

[@rafsanjaniii]

The fact that she regarded the darkroom as a womb yet suffered from a frayed rship with the mum from not wanting to be a mother herself speaks volumes of the inner struggles she must have faced. Really enjoyed this interview and her philosophy in photography.

[@Indrakusuma_a]

Can't believe I sat through out the whole video without any second feeling bored. Somehow I was instantly hooked with all the stories she has. Gotta be honest, I was rarely into photo series or photo stories. It's hard for me to really appreciate them. But for this once, I can understand why she took all those photos. Thank you for this video.

[@chasingvenusfilmarts]

How to make twenty eight minutes and forty nine seconds feel like two minutes= watch this interview. The art within the artist here- as well as the production style- lifts the creative spirit and inspires.

[@thelouisianachannel]

Thank you so much for your kind words!

[@ivanguerra1260]

Wow! ! I´m impacted with this lady photographer. Thanks Louisiana ( I don´t know if is another woman photographer or a brand ) for your work and keep it up.

[@istanangoi]

She is the truest photographer! Her photos tell powerful and meaningful stories that don’t need captions. I remember looking and thinking at the photos of hers in Hiroshima. I didn’t know her that time, but her photos touched me. Great video! Thank you for posting this.

[@jordaneel]

Wow. What an inspiring, intelligent woman. She may never have studied photography but she is the real thing.

[@VictorReynolds]

This is a refreshing video where we hear from the photographer's heart. Not the technical or run of the mill stuff. I can hear her talk all day, or go on a shoot with her. Plus, she becomes part of the world she photographs, not just a casual visitor like so many of us.

[@alexandra7487]

In the second half of the video, she took me wander thought her thoughts and intelligence, and that was a beautiful moment of encounter.

[@badhabit714]

WOW This is the photography stuff I like to watch on KZbin. This Not that who gets to review Canon, Fuji, Sony who's best crap.

[@omnirhythm]

Photographaers like her and Moriyama are like astronauts to other photographers, from their perspective the everlasting quest for best camera and gear is a tiny triviality. I wish they passively added insult to injury by leaving their camera's store stickers on, saying "20Megapixels", "PowerZoom" and stuff :D

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

hahahah exactly, ou how to take a picture of the builduing reflex on water for the 3000242482094 time

[@Asapbabyhurryupdontbelazy]

there are tons of excellent photographers and artist in Asia maybe you can catch up some refreshing stuffs on such as nowness.com or i-d magazine then Another fun fact people who would love to call him/herself a photographer probably 99% a crap with his/her pointless and senseless shashin desu hhh

[@randomfriend9361]

Well they are not crap, technology is improving. I think important is what is useful to you.

[@robertocollo2890]

kzbin.info

[@clarhettcoalfield3616]

Absolutely loved this episode, Ishiuchi Miyako needs to be celebrated as a wonderful photographer with a keen eye for her work, and the environment she worked in.

[@murraykriner9425]

I've loved this woman's story even before I heard this interview, as I saw her photo's that spoke for her, as language never can. There are things more universal than any tongue may ever express if you have the want to experience it thru them. I am very grateful for having the chance to see this interview, as I have revered her insights into the world of time long before I understood just how her history spoke to us all. Bless You.

[@kbdc]

Recently started to get more serious about photography. Watching content like this where the photographer talk about their work, how it came to be, and their philosophy behind capturing images is really refreshing. This is something I can moving forward in my career and aspire to reach similar or greater success when it comes to photography

[@coquiangel]

I love her story telling! Also, I love how she dives in with no expectations, just with passion for the craft.

[@lordoftheflings]

You could see the pain in her eyes when she talked about her mother. I just wanted to hug her at that point. She is a fascinating lady. Great interview. Thanks

[@thelouisianachannel]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@katarina.studio]

Miyako is so full of wisdom. I hope one day I will become such a beautiful soul and a photographer like her. Thank you for this beautiful interview.

[@toitarzanmoijane]

A very interesting person as well as interesting photograph, the first two minutes of commentaries on the self opinion of her work are fantastic. Comments about her idea of being a photograph, "taking photos is about seeing" and "I want you to see things that you can't see" these are words for all of us who are passioned by that little rectangulaire glass where we all strain our eyes to look thru. Her simplicity is inspiring as well as her authenticty.

[@catxi]

I cried when she mentions her photography about Mother's

[@GoCatGo-lp5bq]

I got very emotional then. It made me wish I had photographed some of my mother's things. My mom had dementia. She had been working on a quilt. As the dementia progressed, her stitches became more and more -- I can't think of the right word -- wild.

[@thabomeko7281]

this one touched me , im so sorry about her loss! got me really teary.

[@A-RA-N]

A lot of respect for this woman, she has the eyes of a professional. she understood everything, it changes the little photographer with their backpacks, spankers think they are gifted, she has a photo camera holding in hand

[@badhabit714]

yes none of that Sony is better than Canon crap that you find on youtube...

[@A-RA-N]

badhabit It's not the camera that takes pictures it's the photographer a good photographer can work with any camera

[@msg3415]

The darkroom as a womb analogy was beautiful.

[@nickfanzo]

I love how much she embraces the darkroom and the processes. I love my darkroom.

[@ube_spark]

Her deep words of expressing herself beyond her photographs is building it's value. Very inspirational. Catching her words, inner self and retrace her steps to move forward..a woman of power and wisdom. Thank you! ❤️

[@thelouisianachannel]

Thanks so watching!

[@ube_spark]

@@thelouisianachannel It's so wonderful that I watched the second video. You're welcome! 😍

[@68danci]

Brilliant artist & such a inspiring interview.

[@patrickdumont7302]

Magnificent, thoughtful and touching. She is deeply inspiring, what a gem of a documentary.

[@thelouisianachannel]

Thank you so much for your kind words. It means the world to us!

[@delpierro0815]

What a wonderful and intelligent woman - thanks for sharing.

[@29jug11]

An incredibly enlightening interview.... fascinating insights combined with meaningful interpretation ....

[@thelouisianachannel]

We're thrilled that you liked it!

[@JeffWernerIthacaNY]

What an amazing interview!!! Such an inspired perspective.

[@DavidAusman]

Whew, that was incredible.

[@ritchiesedeyn5330]

An intriguing and very inspiring artist... Not a photographer, a true artist. There aren't many like these

[@kashishahmad5818]

This was really touching 😭

[@adrianbona]

Speechless by this amazing woman and photographer

[@thaliakatsiveli]

what a brilliant person she is! I m impressed!

[@papotaino1516]

Thank you so much for this incredible video of Mrs. Ishiuchi Miyako enjoyed it tremendously, blessings to her.

[@thelouisianachannel]

You're welcome! We're glad that you enjoyed it.

[@doriyancoleman]

a true wealth of knowledge here. loved it!

[@filibertkraxner305]

What an interesting woman. And so casual about her art.

[@bluesunflower1698]

I want to grow old like her.. so inspiring ☺️

[@JimmyKristanto]

yea me too, it's just amazing

[@kudasteam]

I like the language she uses, so philosophical the verse very carefully expressed. Its just like a poems ☺please find more Japanese photographers of her era.

[@Ruylopez778]

You might enjoy the documentary, "Near Equal" (on KZbin)

[@kudasteam]

@@Ruylopez778 thank you, i will check on it.🙏🙏

[@manojhanchate8686]

Amazing! Thank you for the wonderful content! Subscribed!

[@fabzsanz2240]

Beautiful doc! I have discovered a new favorite artist, thank you!

[@thelouisianachannel]

Thanks so much!

[@Magneira]

This was incredible.

[@pokingtravelblog7383]

Wow mee too.still.learning in photography...your story is inspiring...

[@elviranisman1937]

So beautiful and inspiring for photographers! thank you!!

[@thelouisianachannel]

We're glad you liked it! We have plenty more interviews with photographers on our channel. Feel free to subscribe :-)

[@monre4892]

Great interview. I did not known Isuichi Miyako, i am happy to do it now

[@ChristineWilsonPhotography]

That was amazing so inspiring

[@martina2220]

So inspiring!

[@LuliLulu]

Inspiring, I would’ve given up on the first and second failure 😌 I’m glad I found this channel

[@thelouisianachannel]

Thanks so much. Feel free to subscribe to us for more videos on art :)

[@henryjoeseph6084]

That was very inspirational and yet sombre

[@alisyarief50]

The basic thing that why She got new talented in Photography was what She read, listen and feel are so many. This is the key of her brilliant as the camera technologies become sophisticate easy to get good pictures. Anyway I am happy to watch this video and big thanks for this. I would be happy if sometimes I can meet her

[@thelouisianachannel]

So happy that you liked the video. We have one more with Ishiuchi Miyako right here - maybe you'll be interested to see that one too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKeqep19mtKAqKc

[@alisyarief50]

@@thelouisianachannel wakarimashita

[@EdSmed20]

japan is just so photogenic, opportunities for photos everywhere

[@adamlorden5666]

u clearly havent been there

[@antiv]

How wonderful.

[@sookoolaadiinee]

Superb documentary. Very inspirational and refreshing way of thinking

[@thelouisianachannel]

Thansk so much, Greta! We also have a short video with Ishiuchi Miyako in which she gives advice to young photographers: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKeqep19mtKAqKc

[@kondo_681]

非常に感銘を受けました。 石内都さん。ありがとう。

[@Metaldetectiontubeworldwide]

So beautifully shot footage , lighting , pans are of an exeptional quality ! well done subscribed immediatly .. grtzz Geerts Johny

[@thelouisianachannel]

Thank you so much for your kind words!

[@MoncoField]

This was fantastic, what an awesome women/photographer. I love that she just did what felt right and was taught by no one. Those are my favorite artists, its always reassuring to hear those stories. Ive always subscribed to just doing what feels right and not worrying about the "proper" way you should be doing a certain artforms (specifically music and photo/video for me). If you go back and look there are many past great artists and currently still alive artists who were never taught how to play music, paint, film etc...I think people get too wrapped up in trying to learn/master techniques of others when they should be just experimenting and doing what feels right to them. I personally believe thats how you find yourself, style, and create something that matters. Just to be clear im not saying that getting lessons or being taught something is completely useless cause its not. Learning basics can be very helpful. I just dont think people should be constantly trying to learn how others did things exactly the same. The best part of Art for me is that there are no rules. I think we need to embrace that more instead always seeking out tutorial after tutorial trying to have a clear path paved for us. Because what are we in the end if we follow someones exact path...

[@costomerboostcostumer5897]

suppourt nisc

[@chasingvenusfilmarts]

My new favorite channel; "Weekly videos on art, literature, design and architecture produced by Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark. Louisiana Channel is supported by Nordea-fonden Louisiana Channel is a non-profit website based at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebæk, Denmark. With Louisiana Channel as a platform, Louisiana supplies culture to the Net that extends beyond the museum’s own events. The Louisiana team produces videos about art and culture on an ongoing basis, and new videos are posted every week. Louisiana Channel contributes to the permanent development of the museum as a cultural platform and wants to enhance the sense of the importance of art and culture. We see Louisiana Channel as a proposal for a part of a museum in tune with the 21st century, which is also able to hold the attention and interest of a new generation in cultural heritage, an intelligent present and an ambitious future." Thank you Louisiana Channel!

[@thelouisianachannel]

Tobias Reese Our sincere pleasure!

[@BeingSingle1]

Great interview ...loved it❤️❤️❤️❤️.

[@thelouisianachannel]

Thanks ❤️

[@robertbutts9835]

I love Japanese photographers.. and my favorite is Daido Moryiama

[@aboutphotography]

Great video! Great channel!

[@thelouisianachannel]

Thanks so much! :)

[@Shmyrk]

Wow. What a mind she has

[@johanvanhuyssteen9217]

Incredible.

[@ayahtiiv]

Wow so inspired

[@franklucas7708]

time capturer priceless🤳

[@humanangst8801]

A great video and an even greater woman

[@NaiChannel]

石内さん変わらなく素敵な写真家ですな。 かっこいい。

[@BillMintjeHD-Brussels-Belgium]

Nice story...

[@user-lw5cv3lk7v]

一番最後の言葉が印象に残りました。 なにか刺さりました。

[@suchithosecan7564]

Man I think she is in a state of flow when she takes those pictures. Like everything has a story behind it and the fact that she captured that as she said ' extension of the past '. That picture of her mother's hair brush is tbh a very disgusting site to me personally coz I hate fallen hair, but in the photograph you can see the beauty of each hair strand, the bristles of the comb and appreciate her mother and how well kept she was at 84! It's art like this that makes humans the greatest race rather than talking about a petty drug faze. She said that when she was in her studio it was trippy and like she was in a womb. That's a huge statement, regardless of your profession you need to be comfortable just like you were in your mother's womb because that's where you are nurtured and you grow to your full potential. The fact that she grew up in that camp base must have been intense! But that's how pure emotions can be expressed. It's only when you do so, you are most human!

[@hihihi5814]

1:08 2:19 what camera and film does she use?

[@mariliagiannini4554]

The photography talks for itself.

[@pxpx3577]

Does someone know what camera she is using?

[@karimnasser9226]

I won't claim that I am a good photographer, in fact I am a bad photographer, but I can appreciate great photos, and do appreciate the art in photography. I had never heard of this photographer before watching this video, so I researched her photos online before posting my comment here. To be honest I don't find the art in her photos, sure there are a few photos which are pretty good, but the vast majority of photos seem to be snapping photos of random buildings and people, in Japan that's a very easy task. To be a true artists is to show expression in people, in shapes, in structures, something that is out of the ordinary, something either outrageous or truly simplistic, or something that people can related to, but taking snapshots of random things is not considered art, grainy photos are not considered art. People nowadays poetize grain, or film photography, because digital has become so easy, so common, so "flat", I get that, however simply using film does not make one an artist and using high ISO/ASA film does not give character to a subject in an average photo. I appreciate her simplistic approach to photography gear, I think she is a using a Contax point and shoot. I don't mean to offend anyone, especially not Ischiuchi.

[@EdSmed20]

i agree. japan is very photogenic and it isn't too difficult to find interesting subjects there. i think its why japanese photographers are so popular-- because japan is so gorgeous, no matter whose lens it is viewed from

[@artdiary9316]

kerei desu,warm greeting from Bali

[@boluwatiwithedirector]

❤❤❤

[@hasanemispla]

Very nice episode. Love L.C. What is that compact camera she is using? Is it a Pentax?

[@filibertkraxner305]

@Roy Haruyuki I second that, or a T3. Great quality lens in that film camera, not to be underestimated.

[@barryvanweldam9882]

@Roy Haruyuki no look at the bottom that's not a T2 nor a T3 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqLHdIF7Zcl7fbM But don't know which on it is. Lens reminds me of a Konica big mini

[@zapatalaempata]

Its the Ricoh GR10! Look at 1:06 frame by frame

[@andreykanunnikov9556]

Analog Club Amsterdam o

[@themoolag]

Love her explanation in choosing to be child-free. Also, is she shooting with a Ricoh GR1v?

[@ron_sunga]

I think thats a konica big mini

[@benbowland]

@@ron_sunga It's definitely a GR1 of some sort

[@zachjanus7977]

It's a ricoh gr10

[@AI-Hallucination]

Wow the womb.

[@costomerboostcostumer5897]

wow nice vedo

[@rentedtux1883]

I wonder what camera she used in her youth

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

i liked her very much but the photos i find just good. I think that many famous photoghraphers still settle too much honestly, while amateur photoghraphers have some treasures but dont know how to go beyond in marketing and promotion. Or maybe some people overestimate some of these great photoghraphers, more than what they think of themselves, just because some epic shots. or a good organized concept

[@hughsydney2620]

The whole documentary was shoot as third angle. Her eyesight had never been directly contact with lens so do the audiences. Makes a great distance between great photographer and her view. And I am wondering why?

[@MoiseLevi]

Very nice interview, made me think of Daido Moriyama, even using the same camera

[@paddyskate]

Different camera he uses a Ricoh gr1s

[@hasanemispla]

Paddy yes that’s not a ricoh maybe a pentax , but which model?

[@hasanemispla]

Moise Levi sorry about that , it is a ricoh after all.

[@paddyskate]

hasanemispla I thought it was a hexar of some sort but I can’t tell. I’m not as knowledgable about cameras as I used to be

[@aidanshmaden69]

its a ricoh gr10

[@chiefdispatcher]

Как оно, фотографировать без фотоплёнки?

[@msamiullah001]

Does anyone know what is the camera she is using ?

[@gregsoddworld]

Pretty sure it is a Ricoh GR10

[@msamiullah001]

@@gregsoddworld thanks

[@denieriswanto9714]

Saya pernah menggunakan enlarger sebelumnya dan di situ ada pengaturan warna

[@denieriswanto9714]

Saya juga memperhatikan lamanya waktu penyinaran

[@RobertButts-mv3hl]

The women is an artist.. never all the bs comments on mega pixels.. yikes 😬😳 art my mega pixel friends.. nothing to do with mega pixels or equipment.. just simply an artist doing what she feels.. isn't that what all artists do..

[@joyojoyo8]

Ricoh GR1V camera :)

[@karlwalters3763]

Well, designers certainly are paid well anymore, let alone it being a "fancy" job. Most designers I work with are treated lower than the secretaries.

[@darkclone85]

It was a different time before photoshop, Instagram. Designers were seen as artists and masters of visual language and the tools they used back then. Now designers are seen as creators of not art, but templates.

[@lih4736]

JAPANESE LEGEND.

[@everythingchristie9710]

Can somebody tell me what kind of Camera she is using? Thank you!

[@bobditty]

Wow, I love the thought behind her photos. Something timeless about this. Its not the equipment or the technical specs, but soul from the heart. Absolutely love this and will take a piece of this into my photography. Thanks for the inspiration! instagram.com/bobditty

[@yumaryohu7211]

which camera is she using?

[@justincarter5578]

I think it might be a contax T2...maybe.

[@aidanshmaden69]

ricoh gr10

[@justincarter5578]

@@aidanshmaden69 ah, you're right! I was used to seeing them in black.lol

[@yumaryohu7211]

thank you guys!

[@touchmantouchman350]

👁️👁️👋👋👋

[@uniman5573]

暗室は一種の子宮という表現凄い。

[@vidjoe8320]

These people are to photography what Bach and Strauss etc are to music.

[@denieriswanto9714]

Saya pamit dulu, kepala saya terasa pusing. Selamat siang..

[@denieriswanto9714]

Selamat sore

[@jacknicholasny]

Just film photographer. The composition is almost a second thought. The process of development is more important. She is still weaving.