Nobuyoshi Araki

each signed in English on the reverse, framed

Private Asian Collection
Acquired by the present owner from the above

This set of works is generally in good condition. Please note that they were not examined under ultraviolet light and out of their frames.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Untitled belongs to a long-term series by Araki based on the theme of flowers. For the artist, flower simultaneously represents the paradoxical notion of "life" and "death"; when the audience views the blossoming flower in the photo, the actual flower has already withered. Some of the first works in the series were devoted to flowers offered in temples that housed the graves of prostitutes. Obsessed with the decaying form, Araki would even bring along white backdrops to the temples for the creation of his photographs. Similar to his female subjects, the fleeting moment of the blossoming flower would be captured under his lens. Untitled depicts in the center a bouquet of colourful flowers at the height of full blossom, while the right is dominated by a shadow of darkness. The obsession with death as exemplified by the work is in fact deeply entrenched in the Japanese culture. It is through the medium of photography where Araki would continue the exploration of this motif to the present. Another piece in the Untitled series features calla lilies in black and white shade. The colourful petals of the flowe have turned into charcoal black, serving as a fitting metaphor for viewing a beautiful life from birth to death, and from past to future, all encapsulated into a single photograph.