(Image: "Chesapeake, VA" by Koichiro Kurita)

Master fine art photographer Koichiro Kurita, known for his elegant large format platinum/palladium prints, is the Director of Beyond Spheres, a multi-year project which follows the footsteps of Henry David Thoreau (1817– 1862). He has been photographing in the US since 1990 when he received a grant from the Asian Cultural Council (part of the John D. Rockefeller III Fund). Kurita’s works are exhibited internationally and collected by major museums including Museum of Fine Arts Boston, The Princeton Art Museum, The Fogg Museum Harvard University, George Eastman House, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, The Los Angeles County Museum, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, Maison de Europeanne de la Photographie, Biblioteque Nationale de France, among others.

When did you first realize that you were going to be an artist and when did you first start making art?
I encountered Thoreau’s Walden in 1985 when I was a commercial photographer. I was inspired the by the freedom of the spirit and pursued fine art photography.

Who or what inspires you?
All of fine arts photographers and their works inspire me.

Is (or was) anyone else in your family in the arts?
No one is an artist. My mother was a collector of paintings and uncle was an amateur photographer.

Are you self-trained or did you go to art school?
In regards to photography, I am self-trained.

Is the process of creating your art long or short?
Somewhat long. I’m a photographer after all, but the hand-made process which I use now are not too long.

(Image: "Phillips Building" by Koichiro Kurita)

Tell us something about your work.
In this excellent and convenient digital era, my work includes classic photography process and reconfirms those expressional qualities.

Do you have a subject matter that defines you as an artist?
I am interested in the relationship between nature and man.

What makes you stay with a particular subject matter? Why are you drawn to it?
With my work, I am able to reconfirm my proto-identity in nature. I think that this is the most important matter for us at this time.

How do you stay motivated?
I’m not aware of motivation—I create rather spontaneously.

(Image: "Cats eyes Long Island New York" by Koichiro Kurita)

What have you been working on lately? Are you experimenting with anything new?
I launched my project “Beyond Spheres”, which follows the tracks of Henry D. Thoreau. (please click here for more information). In the project, I try to experiment with Calotype, a paper negative process invented in 1841 by William Henry Fox Talbot.

Has your medium changed from when you first became an artist?
Initially, I made silver gelatin print work and now I am using hand-coated alternative processes, such as platinum palladium, salted paper and albumen printing.

What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?
Trust your six senses.

What kind of comment do you despise the most when overheard at one of your openings?
Comparing my work to another artist.

What kind of comment pleases you the most when overheard at one of your openings?
All comments without technical matter are pleasing.

(Image: "Weeping Beech H The Old Field Vineyards, Southold, NY" by Koichiro Kurita)

How have you handled the business side of being an artist?
By teaching photography and other classes.

Do you have any outside interests other than art?
No, just art.

Are you disciplined about your creative process (in other words, do you treat the process like a job, where you keep particular hours in the studio), or are you more spontaneous?
I create art spontaneously.

How would your life change if you were no longer allowed to create art?
It is difficult to imagine because I may not finish create art.

(Image: "Narunia V Southold, NY" by Koichiro Kurita)

What is the best part of being a full time, working artist?
Always being free.

What is the worst part of being a full time, working artist?
Always being frugal.

Do you have any upcoming shows?
“Meditations on Thoreau” is currently on view at Waterfall Arts in Belfast. The next show will be in Tokyo.

Where can we find your work?
Waterfall Arts in Belfast, Maine, sepia EYE in New York and the Michael Hoppen Gallery in London.

- Brenda Bonneville, editor

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