Konrukotan – Ice Town” by Japanese Photographer Keiji Sato
The first exhibition of the new year 2025 will feature Japanese photographer Keiji Sato’s “Konrukotan – Ice Town.” This exhibition will showcase his unique interpretation of the icy world in northern Japan. The opening and talk session will be held on January 11th from 14:30 to 17:00, where Keiji Sato will be present to share the stories behind his creations.
Exhibition Statement
Konru=ice, Kotan=village, town
apparently it’s an Ainu word with that meaning.
It was winter. I was riding the Hakodate Main Line from Sapporo to Otaru during a break from work, and as I passed Zenibako Station, the ocean suddenly appeared in front of me. Up until that point, I had been gazing at the all-white scenery along the railway line. To my eyes, the blue ocean that suddenly appeared before me seemed to go on forever. It seemed to me that even the snow, which had previously appeared white, had turned a deep blue color. The train I was on was an express train that passed through local stations. So the train passed through Zenibako Station without me even knowing what it was exactly that had drawn my attention so strongly. There was no time for me to return to Zenibako Station and check it out at that time, so with that my trip ended.
However, I couldn’t help but wonder what it was, so I later boarded a plane just to go back. I landed at that spot and immediately became engrossed in snapping photos. There used to be a station called “Harihusu” there, but no trace remains of it now. With the feeling of the area, the frozen air, and the roar of the sea, I became fascinated by the harsh winters of northern Japan.
I took the opportunity to often visit various parts of Japan’s northern country during the winter in search of the frozen air. Occasionally, I encountered whiteouts and was fascinated by their beauty, but they were dangerous demons that brought me close to death. I’ve gotten used to spending the night at the airport after my flight was canceled due to a blizzard.
The town I was visiting one time was frozen. My iPhone’s battery was at 98% when I left the hotel room I was staying in, but it quickly dropped to 5% due to the cold. I had wrapped a disposable heating pad around the battery of the mirrorless camera I held, but the heating pad was cold. Disposable heating pads do not warm up without water vapor in the air. They cannot generate heat because the water vapor in the air is frozen. The body heat of my hands warmed the battery, but my hands were already as cold as ice. The camera became just a box and my hands became numb. This is “KonruKotan”, an ice town, where everything is frozen.
About Artist Keiji Sato
Born in Chiba Prefecture, Japan in 1961.
In 2003, he studied under Masato Seto.
Currently a member of RED Photo Gallery in Tokyo.
【Solo Exhibitions】
2025 「Konrukotan -Ice Town」1839 Contemporary Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
2024 「Hanoi」RED Photo Gallery
2024 「五香粉」RED Photo Gallery
2023 「Konrukotan -Ice Town-」PlaceM、RED Photo Gallery
2023 「Tokyo 26:00」RED Photo Gallery
2022 「Barringtonia」RED Photo Gallery
2022 「Havana, Lovely People」Kenko Tokina Gallery
～And many more～since 2001
【Photo Books】
2023 Konrukotan -Ice Town-、Kurosuna (Black Sand)
2022 Tokyo Days、Kurosuna (Black Sand) POST CARD BOOK
2021 From Harius to Oshoro -Spring- POST CARD BOOK
2020 sa baay sa baay
2019 From Harius to Oshoro
2017 View of Oshoro
2016 Bangkok Sexy night view、Bangkok night view、Tokyo Theater
2015 View of Hariusu、The BAR -Shinjuku-、Tokyo cityscape
2014 閃閃台北
Keiji Sato「Konrukotan – Ice Town」SOLO EXHIBITION
Date｜2025.01.11 – 2025.01.24 11:00-19:00
Opening & Artist Talks｜2025.01.11 (六) 14:30-17:00
Speaker: Edward CHIU (Ph.D. in Art, Tokyo University of the Arts)
Venue｜1839 Contemporary Gallery (specializing in photographic art gallery). What’s 1839? It mean the invention of photography in 1839)
Address: B1, No. 120, Yanji Street, Da’an District, Taipei City
