“You don’t have to feel uneasy about working in your own way. That is the best way. You don’t have to agree with anyone, and no one has to agree with you., so it’s a free situation. I have read that the composer, Berlioz, when asked what principle he followed in music, said, ‘Mon plaisir.’ That was a good answer.
David Vestal, the author of “The Craft of Photography”
Artist’s Statement:
I would like to re-discover the world through my eyes and techniques. My essential creative clues are: four lines of picture frame, light intensity, tonal density, contrast, texture, and most importantly, “how it looks.” Experience, persistence, intuition, and open mind are also in my arsenal. Without those, I could not make my journey this far.
I walk around the cities. Subject matter can be anything, but I won’t miss things while other people do. Of course, finding something extraordinary is not quite necessary. Photographs of ordinary subjects can be extraordinary pictures. Anything from the world can come in and play together in my photographs. I am grateful if you could see it.
Now with help of digital technology, I enjoy blessings of even more spontaneous photography, which was sometimes impossible with silver based film photography. My work now has a new possibility, which may be visible to my digital prints.
Biography
Born in Japan, 1967. Moved to Pakistan and spent his childhood for three years, 1976. Began photographing, 1989. Finished architectural study at the University of Tokyo, followed by career as an architectural engineer for the Japanese government, 1991. Revisited Pakistan and considered photography as his own medium, 1992. Moved to New York City to study at Pratt Institute, 1994. Received M.F.A. in Photography from Pratt Institute, 1997. Established and became the president of Tamkey Photo, LLC, 2003. Moved out from New York City, 2023. Currently lives and works in the city of wonder in Asia.
Solo Exhibitions
5/3-5/25/01 “What Things Look,” White Gallery, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon
3/19-4/5/01 “What Things Look II,” Chapman Cultural Center, Cazenovia College, Cazenovia, New York
3/31-4/4/97 “Looking Inside,” Steuben East Gallery, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York
Group Exhibitions
12/7-12/31/20 Damyang International Photo Festival 2020, Damyang, Honam, South Korea
10/20-11/15/09 Gate to the Truth, Sakano House Museum, Joso-City, Ibaragi, Japan
11/9-11/30/06 The Photo Show, Gallery 402, Organization of Independent Artists, New York
11/13-11/17/95 “Graduates,” WIP Gallery, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York
Koyo Tamaki is a contributing artist for Turning Art since 2011.
Koyo Tamaki is a founding member of St Honoré Art & Conseil Association d’Echanges Internationaux d’Art et de Culture of Paris, France since 2009.
Koyo Tamaki, photographic artist 