NAO TSUDA

Taka Ishii Gallery Modern is pleased to present “REBORN (Scene 2) ― Platinum Print Series,” a solo exhibition of works by Nao Tsuda, from June 28 to July 26. Tsuda first exhibited his “REBORN” series with a solo exhibition titled “Tulkus’ Mountain (Scene 1)” held in Tokyo in 2011. Up until now, the series has been exhibited three times, including one exhibition at Taka Ishii Gallery Kyoto in 2012. This exhibition will feature ten images selected from the series which have been produced as platinum prints with support from amanasalto.

The “REBORN” series, which Tsuda began in 2010, is shot in Bhutan, the only Mahayana Buddhist nation in the world. Tsuda has explored the origin and contemporary practice of Buddhism in Bhutan, a place where religion is deeply rooted in people’s lives and there is a tradition of reverence for deities, Buddhas and the natural world. This series takes its title from the Mahayana Buddhist belief in reincarnation, and the images here document the practice and tradition of this religion, which has been practiced over centuries in Bhutan in close proximity to the harsh natural conditions of the Himalayas. Tsuda has captured Bhutan’s many temples and monasteries, along with their monks and the religious festivals and rituals that are practiced inside them.

The kingdom of Bhutan is a small Mahayana Buddhist nation standing at the foot of the Himalaya Mountains. It is said that Bhutan is comparable to Kyushu in size, but it feels surprisingly larger. As its people revere not only deities and Buddhas but also the natural world, the production of such an invasive structure as a mountain tunnel is out of the question. In Bhutan, people continue to travel according to the natural topography. Time, therefore, passes gently in Bhutan; Mahayana Buddhist beliefs, deep as ravines, can be passed down through the generations here. I traveled to Bhutan four times. I arrived each time in Paro, where the international airport is located, and visited the temples in Thimphu. I then traveled on mountain trails leading north and worshipped holy mountains with nomadic peoples. I also traveled to the Bumthang district to visit its many ancient temples. During the Tshechu festivals, held in all four seasons, monks performed masked dances. I was moved by the devotion of the Bhutanese people.
Nao Tsuda