In recent years, an increasing number of Japanese photographers have gone on to receive high acclaim in the international fine-art photography market and their works have been acquired for the permanent collections of major art institutions such as MoMA and Pompidou Center. While the wave of new talent from Japan continues to swell, IMA magazine has been hosting the exhibition series since 2013, with the special support from Panasonic Corporation / LUMIX, to support and foster the new and emerging generation of young photographers who will be the future leaders of Japanese fine art photography. It has been held every year in Paris and Tokyo and met with huge success.
Looking back the past three years, it is remarkable that so many of the photographers who have exhibited works at the exhibition series are gaining recognition worldwide.
Yoshinori Mizutani, participated in 2013 and 2014, was selected for Talent Call 2014 held by Foam, an award-wining international photography publication from the Netherlands regarded as a leading authority amongst photography professionals. In 2015, Mizutani published several photography books from IMA photobooks, including YUSURIKA, COLORS and TOKYO PARROTS. His work has been exhibited in numerous solo shows in major cities including Antwerp, London, Paris and Beijing. He participated in international photography fairs and festivals such as La Gacilly in France. In addition, For ISSEY MIYAKE MEN spring/summer 2016 collection from, Mizutani collaborated with the designer by providing images from his best-know series, TOKYO PARROTS and COLORS.
Kosuke, participated in 2013 and 2014, is now represented by a gallery in Switzerland and his work was exhibited at the Paris Photo 2014, the world’s biggest photography fair.
Daisuke Yokota, participated in 2014, has exhibited at FOAM in Amsterdam in May 2014 and won John Kobal Residency Award at London Photo 2015 as well as Foam Paul Huf Award 2016, which continues to attract portfolios from all over the world. Yokota’s work was also included in the exhibition, Another Language: 8 Japanese Photography at Les Rencontres d’Arles Photography Festival in July 2015. Dubbed "one of the most innovative and experimental young photographers working in the world today," Yokota has become one of the rising stars of the international photography scene.
Yuji Hamada, participated in 2014, exhibited his work at the visual festival, Images 2014, in Vevey, Switzerland and published C/M/Y from fw: in Amsterdam in 2015.
Satoshi Fujiwara, participated in 2015, was shortlisted for “Outset | UNSEEN EXHIBITION FUND” at Unseen Photo Fair 2015 and his photographs exhibited at Photo London in April 2016 were included in “Top Things to See at Photo London” by BLOUIN ARTINFO, the online authority for art news and gallery reviews.
Much to our delight, each of these artists from this exhibition series has become internationally recognized and sought after for their work.