Darzacq, Plageman, Yokonami /
Photofairs San Francisco

For the inaugural edition of PHOTOFAIRS San Francisco 2017, De Soto Gallery presented works by Denis Darzacq, Laura Plageman, and Osamu Yokonami, featuring distinct pairs of series that explore identity, environment, and collective experience.

Denis Darzacq’s La Chute and Act capture bodies suspended in motion, symbolizing resilience and defiance. La Chute, inspired by hip-hop dancers in Algeria and later staged with youth from immigrant neighborhoods in Paris, visualizes the tension between potential and constraint. Act extended this exploration to artists and athletes with disabilities, challenging perceptions of limitation through dynamic movement. Both series emphasize the expressive power of the body to transcend social and physical barriers.

Laura Plageman’s Response, Land and Response, Sea blur the line between photography and sculpture. Plageman reshaped her original images into sculptural assemblages, which she then rephotographed. The series operate as paired meditations on shifting landscapes—one focused on terrestrial environments, the other on the ocean. Her process highlights the fragility and transformation of nature through layered distortions that question our perception of the natural world.

Osamu Yokonami’s 1000 Children and Assembly examine individuality within collective identity. In 1000 Children, Yokonami photographed one thousand schoolgirls in identical dress, each balancing a piece of fruit between ear and shoulder. The portraits reveal subtle distinctions, yet viewed together, they emphasize conformity. Assembly extended this exploration to synchronized group movements in idyllic landscapes, emphasizing the power and rhythm of collective action. Together, the series consider the fine line between singularity and uniformity.

Denis Darzacq (b. 1961, Paris, France) has exhibited widely in Europe and internationally, with works in major collections including the Centre Pompidou and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. He received the World Press Photo Award and the Niépce Prize.

Laura Plageman (b. 1976, Berkeley, CA) has exhibited across the United States, including Photo Center Northwest in Seattle and Catherine Edelman Gallery in Chicago.

Osamu Yokonami (b. 1967, Kyoto, Japan) has exhibited in Japan and the United States, including participation in the Daegu Photo Biennial. His work is widely recognized in Japan and appears regularly in major publications.