Daido Moriyama stands as a pivotal figure in Japanese photography, though his work has often been exhibited sporadically outside Japan, and has not always received the critical recognition it deserves. Born in Osaka in 1938, Moriyama embraced photography at 21, relocating to Tokyo to apprentice with Eikoh Hosoe. Early exposure to William Klein and Andy Warhol significantly influenced his artistic trajectory. He adopted their innovative perspectives, transforming them through his unique lens. Klein’s raw, emotionally charged depictions of New York, alongside Warhol’s exploration of voyeuristic media culture, resonated deeply with Moriyama.
Moriyama’s photographs capture the frenetic energy of Japan’s urban landscapes. Using a compact, handheld camera, he immortalizes fleeting moments with a sense of immediacy. Characterized by tilted frames, pronounced grain, and high contrast, his images often depict dimly lit bars, strip clubs, and anonymous alleyways, where the subject’s motion blurs the line between form and abstraction.
Moriyama’s artistic style was emblematic of a broader artistic revolution in Japan. The art, theater, film, and literature of this period challenged traditional norms, reflecting the profound impact of the American occupation. The conflicting messages of democracy, control, peaceful coexistence, and the Vietnam War shaped the artistic landscape.
Moriyama and other radical artists sought to dismantle the rigid societal structures that had led to the war while simultaneously celebrating Japan’s pre-modern cultural vitality. His photographs of the American Navy base in Yokosuka, symbolizing freedom, and the stray dog near the Misawa Air Force base, capture both the allure and the unease of this transformative era.
In the 1980s, Moriyama’s work evolved towards a starker, more defined aesthetic, exemplified by his ‘Light and Shadow’ series. He pushes the boundaries of photography, venturing into unsettling and ambiguous realms. His gritty black-and-white photographs offer a powerful examination of post-World War II Japanese culture. His iconic image, ‘Stray Dog’ (1971), epitomizes this approach, capturing a fleeting moment amidst bustling street activity. The image of the alert, solitary animal embodies the spirit of the outsider, reflecting Moriyama’s own role as a perceptive observer of his culture.