Colors / Tokyo Parrots

The Yoshinori Mizutani exhibition “Colors / Tokyo Parrots” will feature two of his best-known series “Colors” and “Tokyo Parrots.”

Since starting to exhibit photographs in 2010, Mizutani has produced a number of works. While his subject matter is various, his works all capture things in Tokyo that inspire curiosity or discomfort in their viewers. His series “Colors” is a culmination of everyday landscapes, which the artist has selected based on color and form. The individual objects and places, which constitute the series’ subject, lose their uniqueness as they are transformed into images filled with visual discovery. The aggregate of images the artist has amassed makes various signs in contemporary society vividly visible. In “Tokyo Parrots,” Mizutani has captured feral lime green parrots, which have exploded in population since initially being brought into Japan as pets in the 1970s. Using a strobe in his signature style, he captures the vivid color and form of the parrots, which create extraordinary scenes in the urban landscape. The presence of these strange creatures also creates a sense of discomfort. Mizutani’s humorous works, which are based on careful observation of his surroundings, stimulate viewers’ desires to see and understand the world.

Mizutani is an up-and-coming artist who is receiving increased attention domestically and internationally. Since being selected for the influential Danish FOAM magazine-hosted “Talent Call” in 2014, Mizutani has been included in numerous group exhibitions in Europe and the Middle East. In conjunction with his exhibition, IMA Photobooks has published two collections of his works Colors and Tokyo Parrots. Talks featuring the artist and guests will be held during the exhibition. Finally, to commemorate the exhibition, a special edition of Tokyo Parrots packaged in a unique box with an original print will be made available in a limited edition of 20.