In a solo exhibition designed specially for the architecture of the house, the Kunsthaus Bregenz will show photographs from three series of works by the Japanese photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto (born 1949 in Tokyo, lives in New York). During his studies of art, Sugimoto, who left Japn in 1970 and went to Los Angeles, was influenced by American Minimal- and Concept Art. This is revealed not only in the serial nature of his photographs, but above all in the reduction and concentration of the pictorial vocabulary which gives his subjects the aura of quiet and timelessness which distinguishes his photographic work.

Five central photographic series determine his work to date: Dioramas and Wax Museums (both since 1976), Theaters (since 1978), Seascapes (since 1980), and Architecture (since 1997).

Impressed by Peter Zumthor´s architecture, Sugimoto decided to present 21 photographs from the series of the Seascapes and 13 photographs from the Architecture series for the first time in large format. The new monumental group Pinetrees was created especially for the Bregenz exhibition and is based on the tradition of Japanese painting.

A catalogue-book as well as a artist´s book designed by Hiroshi Sugimoto will appear on the occasion of the exhibition.

Performances by the Naohiko Umewaka Noh Theater within the framework of the exhibition