hiroshi sugimoto

Photography has been many things, but it's always been tied to art. Many of its early innovators were classically trained artists, although it has sometimes struggled for full acceptance in the art world. There are a few photographers out there today working as much as artists as they are photographers, who are able to take the process and art of photography beyond its more practical applications like advertising products and documenting events toward representing an esoteric experience of reality.

One of those photographer-artists is Hiroshi Sugimoto, who has an amazing retrospective exhibit that's currently at the de Young Museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. I loved it. It's not just a bunch a photographs hanging on white walls--it's an experience that takes you into Sugimoto's head and how he sees as an artist. It's amazing. I'm both inspired by his work--taking such simple ideas and making magnificent art--as well as frustrated that my creative ideas aren't half as brilliant (lots of room for growth!)

Here's the info on the de Young exhibit

Sugimoto's website
(it contains many of the same captions as in the exhibit, but fewer photographs)

A series of podcasts featuring presentations/interviews with Sugimoto.

If you're in the Bay Area, go see it! The exhibit continues through September 23, 2007.