Born 1972, Rinko Kawauchi is a Japanese photographer with a unique aesthetic and style as she captures intimate moments, using colours, textures, movement, light, and shapes to differentiate her photographs from others. Inspired by the Shinto religion as well as the works of Irving Penn, Kawauchi’s photographs capture ordinary moments with a profound almost hallucinatory perspective. Her work, particularly her book “Illuminance,” showcases her unique perspective and ability to capture the beauty in the ordinary and evoke a sense of wonder through her photographs.
“I want to capture the small miracles in everyday life that we often overlook.”
– Rinko Kawauchi
This quote reflects Kawauchi’s desire to highlight the beauty and significance of ordinary moments. Through her lens, she brings attention to the subtle details that often go unnoticed, allowing viewers to appreciate the magic in the mundane. People rarely appear in her images, which range in subject from city streets, flowers, and oceans, to a deer lying dead on the side of a road, she focuses her eye on scenes of a more mundane nature. She seems to take pictures from the perspective of a girl who spent too much time gazing out of the window at school, studying bugs on leaves or watching dandelions disperse in the wind.
Similarly, Kawauchi’s fascination with light and shadow is evident in her work. Her photographs often play with natural light and its effects on the subjects, creating a sense of ethereal and dreamlike atmosphere. By manipulating light, she emphasises the emotional and symbolic aspects of her subjects.
The title of Kawauchi’s book, “Illuminance,” suggests her intention to illuminate the hidden aspects of life. Her photographs capture fleeting moments of clarity and revelation, offering glimpses into the deeper meanings behind everyday experiences. Through her images, Kawauchi invites viewers to contemplate the feeling nature of life and the beauty that lies within it.
Here is a video where she explains her love for the “small mysteries of life”: