Myriads of Gods
by Dagny McKinley
This article is an exclusive Art with Altitude online article
The new exhibit at the Sangre de Cristo arts & Conference Center featuring artists Masato Okazaki and Nobuyuki Kobayashi is well worth the drive from Steamboat Springs. The photographic works that comprise Portrait of Nature: Myriads of Gods is titled after a set of books by Nobuyuki. The individual pieces are inspired by time spent in nature, and by the ‘overwhelming presence’ one experiences when alone with the land.
The viewer will feel the “overwhelming presence” of awe or wonder as they move through the works. Both artists invite us to disappear into the largess of nature and smallness of humanity through their pieces. Their art doesn’t just capture a scene, a moment of solitude, it captures the human experience when we are able to strip down our lives to our barest essence. And while their work is deeply rooted in traditional photographic techniques, it also offers a modern perspective, creating this fascinating blend of old and new.
By juxtaposing eroding man-made structures that are being reclaimed by water, earth and air, Masato’s work asks us to consider our own fragile existence. How long will we be here and what will replace us when we are gone? Masato has been a black & white photographer making silver gelatin prints since 1980. Since 2000, he has been making artistic photographs from abandoned community structures and artifacts on the Japanese Island of Hokkaido. While using this soft winter northern light, he captures places and reminders of a people who had flourished in these rural regions, but have long since migrated away. The commonality of his work is a deep spiritual connection to the region though lustrous tonal prints created by one of the world’s master printers.
Nobuyuki’s work focuses instead on quiet beauty, or Yu-gen. Instead of erosion, Nobuyuki’s work considers fullness, fullness of spirit, softness of nature. Born in Yokoze-town, Saitama prefecture, Nobuyuki uses Hosokawa-paper (Japanese traditional paper) with platinum palladium prints, which brings the spiritual into the physicality of the work. His work has been shown across Europe as well as in Taiwan. And now we are fortunate enough to be able to see these works in Colorado. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity.
Elevate the Arts: Visit the exhibit through January 11, 2025. The exhibit is free for members, $10 for adults, $8 for children and $8 for military and seniors 65+
