A private space, woven patiently by a single artist in a single place over many years, resonates with others through photography. This may even be called a new form of publicness. We invite you to pick up this book again and again, and to immerse yourself in this Dreams of Space.
Since beginning her photographic practice more than twenty years ago, Tamura has consistently photographed a certain site. Once a military base, the land has since been redeveloped into a national park and other facilities. Having watched its transformation since childhood, Tamura says she remains fascinated by the vast space that still exudes the presence of another world.
“There are things that can only be seen on cloudy days in autumn and winter. They are ephemeral and vanish instantly when sunlight streams through the clouds…. I don’t know what I saw in those moments, or what fascinated me. I just couldn’t figure it out—so, unable to walk away, I just kept pressing the shutter, to the point where it almost seemed pointless…. Is this the true form of the scene, or merely an illusion? Perhaps it’s the same, no matter which way you choose to see it.”
—From the artist’s statement
Avoiding the seasons when plants are in full bloom and deliberately excluding the dramatic expressions of strong light and shadow, Tamura has carefully captured quiet scenes imbued with a mysterious sense of suspension, as if in a dream. The repeated appearance of a towering chimney—remnant of the site’s past—at varying distances further enhances the sense of entering a labyrinth.
“By approaching Tamura’s serene photographic works with a clear and attentive mind, “touching them with our eyes” so to speak, we may discover, within what is natural and familiar, an entrance to another world. It might be the foliage of the trees, the smooth surface of glass, or the spray from a motionless fountain—each accompanied by a sensation you might be tempted to describe as the texture of the present moment.”
—From the commentary
What once “was” now exists tangibly as what “is.” Though the reality at the time of shooting was open only to the “I” who stood there, it can nonetheless be shared with others—if not completely. While this is a fundamental function of photography, Tamura says she is astonished by this fact each time.
“Considered in that light, I felt as though I had suddenly been transported from a confined space out into the open, easing my mind and brightening my outlook on the world.”
—From the artist’s statement
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Author: Reiko Tamura
Edit: Daisuke Morishita
Editing Cooperation: Yasushi Soma
Design: Makoto Shoji, ebitai design
Translation: JEX Limited
Size: 257 × 307 mm
Pages: 104
Number of illustrations: 60 color photographs
Binding: Hardcover
First edition: September 17, 2025 (300 copies)
ISBN 978-4-9914195-0-8
Price: ¥5000+tax