Five celebrities shot by Kinbaku photographer Nobuyoshi Araki
Known worldwide for his erotic and provocative photography, Tokyo-born artist Nobuyoshi Araki is holding his largest solo exhibition in Hong Kong. We take a look at his work with Lady Gaga, G-Dragon, Kiko Mizuhara, Bjork, Tang Wei and Wang Leehom
Nobuyoshi Araki, one of the most prominent post-war Japanese photographers, turned 77 on Thursday. Throughout his artistic career, the photography legend spent more than five decades capturing the extremes in everyday life, from flowers and cats to naked women and death. The Kinbaku, the Japanese art of rope bondage, was his most prevalent theme.
Although some people find his work degrading and offensive, Araki has defended his work. “Kinbaku is different from bondage. I only tie up a woman’s body because I know I cannot tie up her heart. Only her body can be tied up. Tying up a woman becomes an embrace.” Araki’s work is not everyone’s cup of tea. But a host of celebrities have teamed up with him for ultra-stylish and seductive shots. These five international megastars photographed by him that are real eye-openers (and managed to pass censorship).
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga posed in Araki’s signature style for Vogue Hommes Japan in 2009, and there was also a series of Polaroids featuring a completely naked Gaga. Is it art or is it porn? To Araki, it makes little difference.
G-Dragon
Last year, the Japanese artist teamed up with K-pop megastar G-Dragon for a one-off magazine shot, with the latter wearing his own brand PEACEMINUSONE and another brand AMBUSH. Araki described the work as an “intimate black and white shoot”.
Kiko Mizuhara
A red hoodie paired with fishnet tights, a bloody crocodile crawling on the shoulder ... Japanese model Kiko Mizuhara was bound with a black rope under Araki’s camera for the Supreme 2016 Fall/Winter Collection. They showed the world the bold and wild sense of romance of the Japanese.