Arts Preview: Patrick Nagatani's Nuclear Enchantment exhibition

NUCLEAR ENCHANTMENT
The Salt Yard

Patrick Nagatani may have depicted himself as "a desensitised subject" in some of the images in his "Nuclear Enchantment" series, but the Japanese-American photographer takes the nuclear issue seriously and personally.

"I have lived my life in nuclear times," says Nagatini, who was born in Chicago in 1945, 13 days after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. The photographer adds that he has relatives affected by the Hiroshima bomb, as well as the 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima.

"I am a concerned citizen who is aware of world issues and nuclear development. I am against all forms of the corporate scheming which takes place under the guise of providing energy for the people," he says.

"I am a member of the Atomic Photographers Guild, and we protest nuclear development and weapons."

Nagatani moved to New Mexico, the birthplace of nuclear weapons, 27 years ago, to teach photography at the University of New Mexico. He started his research into nuclear topics by taking photos of atomic test sites and radioactive waste dumps.

The result is "Nuclear Enchantment", a series of 40 images taken from the late 1980s to the early '90s. Independent art space The Salt Yard will exhibit 30 of the images photographs until October 20.

"Many of the photographs in the series are of sites that are presided over by ancient mythical figures," he says. "I want them to remind us of the spiritual poverty of the technological age."

Nagatani works in a style known as tableau photography, which involves posing and manipulating the subject.

"Tableau photography helps develop a broader narrative. It presents multiple pieces of information to create a visually interesting piece that draws the viewer into the issues. My work points out that the radioactive landscape is often hidden," he says.

Dustin Shum Wan-yat, co-founder of The Salt Yard, encountered Nagatani's work while studying photography in the early '90s. "The nuclear issue seems remote to Hong Kong people. But in reality, we can't avoid it. You just have to look at the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster. That had a serious effect on Asia that will continue into the foreseeable future," says Shum.

"Not long ago residents of Heshan city in Guangdong protested against the construction of a uranium processing facility. There is also a nuclear plant in nearby Daya Bay, and the operational transparency of that is poor. The nuclear issue is no longer just other people's business. I'm sure Patrick's works will resonate with visitors to the exhibition."

vanessa.yung@scmp.com

The Salt Yard, 4/F Jone Mult Industrial Building, 169 Wai Yip Street, Kwun Tong, August 24-October 20, Thursday-Sunday, noon-7pm. Inquiries: 3563 8003