The European Cultural Centre (ECC), a cultural organization founded by artist René Rietmeyer, has opened a new intimate cultural space in Montmartre, Paris. For the inaugural exhibition, directors Elisabeth Mironenko and Nina Comini are presenting works by renowned Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki from his series "Monstrous Paradise," featuring pieces from the ECC Art Collection.
The origins of the "Monstrous Paradise" project date back to 1999, when Dutch artist René Rietmeyer first encountered Araki at the opening of his exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo. However, establishing contact with the celebrated photographer proved to be a challenging endeavor that would span several years.
Rietmeyer made his first attempt to reach Araki in November 2012, but despite a second attempt with the assistance of a Japanese translator, it remained impossible to clearly explain the project to the artist. Following a second letter, Araki's manager Natsuko Odate finally responded with encouraging news: "I discussed with Araki and he is very happy to participate in your project."
After years of patient waiting, January 2018 brought excellent news when Odate announced that "Araki has finally finished preparing the publication." By April 2018, the European Cultural Centre received 200 images from the "Monstrous Paradise" series, marking the culmination of nearly two decades of effort.
Each image in the collection showcases carefully arranged scenes that reflect Araki's distinctive fantasies and his particular way of presenting stories in his characteristically unique style. The photographs demonstrate the artist's mastery in creating provocative and thoughtfully composed visual narratives that have made him one of Japan's most internationally recognized photographers.
The exhibition is available for viewing by appointment through October 21 at 4, rue Piemontesi, 75018, Paris. Visitors can find more information at ecc-collection.eu and ecc-france.eu.
