Life that unfolds

Being held for the first time in Brazil, the exhibition “Life that unfolds” is open to the public on the second floor of Japan House São Paulo from November 19 to April 13, 2025, with free admission. In collaboration with the KYOTOGRAPHIE International Photography Festival—recognized as one of the most significant events of its kind since its inception in Kyoto in 2013—the exhibition showcases four photographic series by Rinko Kawauchi (1972) and Tokuko Ushioda (1940), capturing family moments and the intimate spaces of their homes in Japan.

Art and artists from different generations

Rinko Kawauchi - 1972

Among contemporary photographers, Kawauchi is recognized for her profound and personal reflections on her family. Her style, which emphasizes the fragility and essential vitality hidden within the subjects she captures through her delicate sensitivity, earned international acclaim. In 2007, her work was showcased at the Museum of Modern Art in São Paulo, Brazil.

Tokuko Ushioda - 1940

Kawauchi explains why she chose Ushioda, an acclaimed photographer with multiple awards to her name, as her partner in this dialogue—especially as she makes her debut exhibition in Latin America at the age of 84:

“I respect that she has been working as a photographer since a time when women's participation in society was challenging, and that she approaches life with such sincerity.” - Rinko Kawauchi.

“These are highly poetic ways of depicting everyday life, with a careful and deeply personal focus on minor details and moments—some common, others unusual, and even playful. What we hope is that the audience connects with this everyday life, developing a sense of intimacy with the lives of these two women, which reflect the ordinary life of a person in Japan and that may have so much in common with our lives here, on the other side of the world,” remarks Japan House São Paulo Cultural Director Natasha Barzaghi Geenen.

Series of everyday life photographs

Kawauchi's "Cui Cui" series documents moments in her family’s life cycle over 13 years, including her brother's marriage, her grandfather’s passing, and the birth of her nephew. The photographer chose the title for the series after she learned the French expression used to describe the sparrow's chirp—a song heard in various parts of the world. It serves as a perfect metaphor for the everyday sounds that permeate the life of Kawauchi’s family. Meanwhile, in her “as it is” series, Rinko records the first three years of her daughter’s life, complemented by a video projection.

In the series “ICE BOX”, Ushioda captures the intimacy of families, both relatives and friends, over 22 years, using refrigerators as a constant point of reference. This approach offers a unique perspective on domestic life and family connections during that period. In “My Husband”, Ushioda shares glimpses of everyday life with her husband and daughter, captured in a small Western-style apartment during the 1970s.

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About Rinko Kawauchi

Rinko Kawauchi was born in 1972, in Shiga, Japan. She graduated in photography and graphic design from Seian Women's College (now Seian University of Art and Design, in Saga) in 1993, and worked as a freelance photographer in advertising for years. In 2002, she received the 27th Kimura Ihei Prize for her series Utatane and Hanabi. In 2023, she was awarded the Sony World Photography Prize for her exceptional contribution to the field. Kawauchi’s work is regularly featured in exhibitions in Japan and globally, including at the Cartier Foundation, in Paris, and The Photographer's Gallery, in London.

About Tokuko Ushioda

Tokuko Ushioda was born in 1940, in Tokyo, Japan. She graduated from the Kuwasawa Design School in 1963, where she studied with photographers Yasuhiro Ishimoto and Kiyoji Otsuji. Between 1966 and 1978 she taught at the Kuwasawa Design School and at Tokyo Zokei University. In 2018, her series *Library* earned her the Domon Ken Prize, the Photographic Society of Japan’s "Lifetime Achievement" award, and the Higashikawa Award for "Domestic Photographer." In 2019, she received the Kuwasawa Special Prize, and in 2022, was awarded the Special Jury Prize at Paris Photo – Aperture PhotoBook for her series My Husband.

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Service:

Exhibition // Life that unfolds

#OlharesDoJapão #FotografiaNaJHSP

Partnership: KYOTOGRAPHIE International Photography Festival

Period:11/19/2024 to 04/13/2025 
Fee:free admission

“Life that unfolds” is part of the JHSP Accessible program, offering tactile resources, audio descriptions and video in sign language to provide accessibility to all visitors.

Early online booking (optional)

Japan House São Paulo | 2nd floor 
Location: Avenida Paulista, 52 – Bela Vista, São Paulo

Opening hours: 
Tuesday to Friday, from 10 am to 6 pm;
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, from 10 am to 7 pm.