Nobuyoshi Araki

A rare screening of ‘Arakimentari’, a 2004 documentary on controversial Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki, takes place in London this February. The prolific artist is best known for his provocative images of female nudity, often featuring bondage in the form of traditional Japanese shibari.

Raised in Tokyo’s “shitamachi”, or low-city, Araki’s childhood home was opposite Jōkanji temple, a de facto burial ground where the bodies of over 20,000 prostitutes were interred between the 17th and 20th centuries. The combination of sexuality and death in this space served as the inspiration to his notorious, and occasionally scandalous photography style, which he has dubbed “erotos”.

In 2013, an accident cost Araki the vision in his left eye, but inspired the exhibition ‘Love On The Left Eye’, which was held the following year. His notable recent work includes a photo series for Givenchy’s AW17 collection titled ‘Red Velvet’, and a collaboration with sculptor Keith Wong in 2019 titled ‘The First’.

Deeper Into Movies presents ‘Arakimentari’ at Dalston’s SET on February 8th, 2020.