The photography exhibition Alec Soth: A Room of Rooms will be held at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum in Ebisu, Tokyo, starting from October 10 (Thursday).
Alec Soth, born in Minneapolis, USA, and still based there, is a full member of the international photography collective Magnum Photos. He is globally acclaimed for his works that often depict themes from the American Midwest, where he was raised.
The exhibition will feature approximately 60 works across six sections, showcasing pieces from his iconic early series Sleeping by the Mississippi to his latest work, Advice for Young Artists, set to be published this autumn. This exhibition not only reflects on Soth’s 30-year journey but also represents a unique initiative by the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum to reinterpret his body of work through the theme of “room.”
Soth has traveled across the United States by car, capturing landscapes and the people he encounters with a large-format camera. One of the series featured in the exhibition, I Know How Furiously Your Heart is Beating, does not follow a traditional road trip style; instead, Soth visits various individuals around the world, including dancer/choreographer Anna Halprin and novelist Hanya Yanagihara. He photographs them within their own rooms, capturing portraits and their personal belongings. This series, centered around the theme of rooms and the people who inhabit them, served as the inspiration for the exhibition.
Soth has stated, “I regularly photograph portraits, landscapes, and still lifes, but I feel most connected to indoor photography.” The exhibition invites visitors to focus on the various rooms depicted in Soth’s works and the people who inhabit those spaces, exploring what emerges from this perspective and the appeal of an artist whose exhibition and photobook have garnered significant support.
Additionally, an artist talk featuring Soth will be held on October 12 (Saturday).
Alec Soth: A Room of Rooms
Exhibition Period: October 10, 2024 (Thursday) – January 19, 2025 (Sunday)
Venue: Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, 2nd Floor Exhibition Room
Organizer: Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Tokyo Photographic Art Museum
Supported by: Tokyo Photographic Art Museum Support Members
Phone: 03-3280-0099
Website: www.topmuseum.jp
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Open until 8:00 PM on Thursdays and Fridays; however, on January 2 (Thursday) and January 3 (Friday), it will close at 6:00 PM) Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
Closed: Every Monday (If Monday is a public holiday, the museum will be closed the following weekday), Year-end and New Year holidays (December 29 – January 1)
Admission Fees: General: 800 yen (640 yen), Students: 640 yen (510 yen), Junior High and High School Students, and Seniors (65 years and older): 400 yen (320 yen)
The figures in parentheses are group rates for 20 or more paid visitors, discounted rates for holders of movie tickets for the museum, and various member card discounts.
Free admission for elementary school students and junior high school students living or studying in Tokyo, as well as individuals with disabilities and up to two caregivers.
Free admission on January 2 (Thursday) and January 3 (Friday).
Online reservation of timed tickets is available.
Alec Soth Artist Talk
Date: October 12 (Saturday), 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Venue: Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, 1st Floor Hall
Capacity: 190 people (Entry by numbered ticket / Free seating / Simultaneous interpretation available)
Participation Fee: Free
Numbered tickets will be distributed from 10:00 AM at the main reception on the 1st floor on the day of the event.
Gallery Talk by Curator
Date: October 18 (Friday), 2:00 PM
Dates with Sign Language Interpretation:
- December 6 (Friday), 2:00 PM
- January 10 (Friday), 2:00 PM
Please gather at the entrance of the 2nd Floor Exhibition Room with a valid ticket for the current exhibition or any proof for free admission.