Hiroshi Sugimoto

London: Day 4 -  Sunday 

After  a much needed lazy morning, we return to the South Bank  and meet up with Simon and Lloyd at the Haywood Gallery to visit the Hiroshi Sugimoto exhibition.  

I must admit to being unfamiliar with this Japanese photographer whose work is held in international esteem - and the images in this high-profile exhibition are  often truly remarkable.  

‘Often employing a large-format wooden camera and mixing his own darkroom chemicals, Sugimoto has repeatedly re-explored ideas and practices from 19th century photography while capturing subjects including dioramas, wax figures and architecture. His work has stretched and rearranged concepts of time, space and light that are integral to the medium.’ 

The dioramas are interesting, though not my favourites, and I’m less convinced by the out of focus architectural shots, but I love his timeless seascape series and his work on conceptual mathematical forms. Then there are the derelict theatres, and a room devoted to colour blocks from his work on prisms. Perhaps my favourites are in his ‘Lightning Fields’ series, creating tree-like shapes, amoeboid creatures and delta-like forks of electrical charges. 

‘The idea of observing the effects of electrical discharges on photographic dry plates reflects my desire to re-create the major discoveries of these scientific pioneers in the darkroom and verify them with my own eyes.’ 

https://www.sugimotohiroshi.com

Then, for something completely different, we disappear into the temporary space of Udderbelly’s ‘Tuff Nut Jazzclub’ for a performance of a jazz Nutcracker. Here, eponymous toy is replaced by an Action Man who discovers his feminine side, ending up wearing the Sugarplum Fairy’s tutu, and an intolerant father grows to accept his son’s sexuality. The message is actually quite moving, and the whole performance is great fun, brilliantly performed by dancers and musicians in this intimate setting. 


You will. I’m sure, be relieved to know that this is our last full day in London!