Discover the Sacred Beauty of Tibet Through Award-Winning Photography
Curator: CHIU, I-Chien
1839 Contemporary Gallery is honored to present “Portraits of TIBET” by Japanese photographer Shinya Arimoto – a profound photographic journey that captures the essence of Tibetan culture and spirituality.
This remarkable exhibition showcases Arimoto’s debut masterpiece, which earned him the prestigious 35th Sun Award and marks his first solo exhibition in Taiwan. Between 1994 and 2009, Arimoto made countless journeys to Tibet, spending his twenties forging an unbreakable bond with this sacred land. Like discovering his true calling, he found himself inexplicably drawn to Tibet’s timeless beauty and profound wisdom.
The featured works, originally published in his groundbreaking 1999 photography collection “Portraits from Tibet,” offer an intimate glimpse into a culture that has weathered tremendous change while preserving its traditional essence. Through Arimoto’s lens, we witness Tibet’s remarkable ability to honor its cultural heritage while embracing a path toward prosperity and happiness, allowing this sacred and beautiful land to shine with even greater brilliance.
- Title: Portraits of TIBETt – Shinya Arimoto Solo Photography Exhibition
- Award: the 35th Taiyo Award.Winner
- Curator: CHIU, I-Chien (phD)
- Exhibition Period: November 28 – December 28, 2025
- Opening Reception: Saturday, November 29, 2:30 PM
- Artist Talk: 3:00 – 5:00 PM featuring Shinya Arimoto and SHEN Chao-Liang
Venue: 1839 Contemporary Gallery
(Dedicated to photography as an art form since 1839 – the year photography was invented)
Address: B1, No. 120, Yanji Street, Da’an District, Taipei
Gallery Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 11:00 AM–7:00 PM (Weekends until 6:00 PM)
About the Photographer: Shinya ARIMOTO
1971 Born in Osaka, Japan.
1994 Graduated from Visual Arts Osaka.
1998 Awarded the 35th Taiyo Award.
2008 Started administering TOTEM POLE PHOTO GALLERY.
2017 Awarded the 26th Tadahiko Hayashi Award.
2017 Awarded the Photographic Society of Japan’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Today he is based in Tokyo, where he energetically participates in solo and group exhibitions in Japan and abroad.
“The 4th PHOTOQUAI” photography biennial, Musée du quai Branly/Paris, FRANCE (2013).
“Tokyo Debugger” Ginza Nikon salon/Tokyo, Osaka Nikon salon/Osaka (2015),
“Tibet/Grassland-Tokyo/Streets” Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of Photography Nara (2016).
“Tokyo Circulation” Zen Foto Gallery/Tokyo (2016) and many others.
He continues to administer his own gallery in Tokyo and self-publishes photography books under the Totem Pole Photo Gallery imprint.
Major previous publications include
“Portrait of Tibet” (Visual Arts, 1999), “ariphoto selection vol.1- vol.12” (TPPG 2010-2025), “Tokyo Circulation” (2016), “TIBET” (2019), “Tokyo Debugger”(2020) and “Tokyo Strut”(2022), Zen Foto Gallery.
Shinya ARIMOTO Photo Exhibition – Portrait of TIBET
Award: the 35th Taiyo Award. Winner
Works on Display｜34 photographs
Exhibition Period｜Nov. 28-Dec. 28, 2025
Opening｜Art Talk with Artist: Sat. November 29, 2025 14:30 – 17:00
Photo Talk｜Shinya ARIMOTO, v.s. I- SHEN Chao-Liang
Curator｜ I-Chien CHIU (phD)
Organizer: 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