Yoshiko Mogi’s exhibition “MUSHI no TON” 12/23~12/31

09/18/2023

We are pleased to announce Yoshiko Mogi’s exhibition “MUSHI no TON” coming up in the end of 2023.
Mogi participated in the “ATLAS LAB” photography workshop held by Reminders Photography Stronghold in 2020, where she started working on this project in earnest.

©️Yoshiko Mogi / MUSHI no TON

The term “MUSHI no TON” is found in the sangha (sangha) of the sutra and means “a desire whose beginning is no longer known”, and in the sangha it is taught that this should be repented of. We,the children in the past have been hurt by their father’s beginning-less greed and have lived at a distance for a long time. However, the inerrant covetousness continues to exist unchanged in the father who has grown old and ill. There was a certain power mixed into the father’s image that was driven by it. As if attracted by this, the artist began taking photographs of her father, and eventually became aware that herself, like her father, also had a beginning-less greed inside her.

There will be a reception held on the opening day of the exhibition.
In conjunction with the exhibition, an artist book entitled ‘MUSHI no TON’ is now launched. Details on pre-ordering can be found on this page. Please stey tuned with the latest information of the exhibition and artist book posted on Facebook and other social media.
We look forward to welcoming you to the exhibition.

“MUSHI no TON”
I did not like my father. However, his personality changed after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’ s disease. I gradually started to develop a sense of intimacy towards him. He used to be the one who was always putting himself and his idealism first, often neglecting the family. He has now lost control over his body and is struggling like some unknown creature, with erratic body movements. I noticed that I have started to look at him in a new light, instead of focusing on the feeling of disgust I used to have.
I decided to ask myself, “What does my father mean to me?” I then started to communicate with him, looking at him like some wildlife creature through the lens.

My father has never stopped farming, even after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’ s disease. I know that he secretly takes an excessive amount of medicine to keep himself stable on days when his condition worsens. Taking so much medicine changes his facial expression, makes his tongue sharp, and causes him to perform strange body movements. By looking at his movements, I almost feel like I have just stumbled upon a strange unknown creature. I think it would be disturbing for little children to see him like that. However, although he is disturbing, his greedy and selfish movements are filled with a human energy, at least in my eyes. And I am simply drawn to that energy.

As I began to make this book, I realized that my father was not the only one with such “MUSHI no TON” which means interminable greed , as I also began to recognize it within myself. I can now sympathize with my father, as he was probably following the common sense of his time. He was conflicted but simply accepting what was expected of him and following that path, just like all the other guys who were around at the time. Although the darkness between me and my　father may never go away, I can at least dilute the poison in myself by gaining deeper understanding about him and myself.

Yoshiko Mogi

Yoshiko Mogi’s exhibition “MUSHI no TON”
◎Exhibition dates: 23/12/2023 (SAT) – 31/12/2023 (SUN) 1pm-7pm / Open daily / No Admission fee
◎The opening reception and the artist talk : 23/12/2023 7pm-
◎Venue:Reminders Photography Stronghold
Higashimukojima 2-38-5, Sumidaku, Tokyo, Japan
(6mins walk from Hikifune station (Tobu Skytree Line), 5mins walk from Keisei Hikifune Station)

©️Yoshiko Mogi / MUSHI no TON

©️Yoshiko Mogi / MUSHI no TON

©️Yoshiko Mogi / MUSHI no TON

©️Yoshiko Mogi / MUSHI no TON

©️Yoshiko Mogi / MUSHI no TON

©️Yoshiko Mogi / MUSHI no TON

©️Yoshiko Mogi / MUSHI no TON

<Profile : Yoshiko Mogi>
After working as a freelance photographer for about 10 years, she is now working as a photographer and graphic designer for the company. Her previous artist book “GREEN PIGEON”, published in 2017, was selected as a finalist in the SIPF 2018 Photobook Award.

Exhibition, Exhibition