Yokonami /
AIPAD

For AIPAD 2018, De Soto Gallery presented works by Osamu Yokonami, showcasing images from his Assembly series, as well as a 75-piece installation of portraits from his 1000 Children project. Both series explore the tension between individuality and collective identity, capturing the subtle dynamics of human expression within structured environments.

In 1000 Children, Yokonami photographed one thousand schoolgirls in identical dress and setting. Each half-length portrait features a girl balancing a piece of fruit between her left ear and shoulder—a gesture that elicits slight, unguarded reactions. Viewed individually, these differences are stark, yet en masse, they reveal a visual rhythm of conformity, underscoring the tension between personal expression and collective uniformity.

Assembly expands this exploration to group settings, where uniformed girls hike, run, rest, huddle, and scatter through vast landscapes. The series’ structured compositions and repetitive movements evoke a sense of collective rhythm, blurring the lines between nature and culture while highlighting the quiet power of unity.

Osamu Yokonami (b. 1967, Kyoto, Japan) has exhibited widely in Japan and the United States, including recent solo shows and participation in the Daegu Photo Biennial. His work, both personal and commercial, is widely recognized in Japan and appears regularly in major publications. Yokonami is based in Tokyo.