Pristine, precise and prosperous; attractive, safe and reliable – Switzerland and Japan have much in common in the collective imagination. This resonance is simultaneously real and imagined, embodied and fantasized, experienced and mediatized.

Idealized societies; an abundance of unspoiled nature; immaculate and picturesque countryside; technological engineering and progress; medical biotechnology: all these fragments tell the story of a seemingly perfect order.

This exhibition explores the cultural seeds, underlying myths and narrative dynamics that foster this remarkable image. Most importantly, it asks how we can reclaim these myths to better address today’s challenges. By looking into one another’s mirror, both countries may be able to better understand themselves by questioning the image they transmit.

As Switzerland and Japan celebrate 160 years of bilateral relation in 2024, “Super Natural” explores this mutual fascination through the eyes of photographers of both countries. The exhibition is an initiative of Photo Elysée - Museum for Photography - in Lausanne and the Embassy of Switzerland in Japan, in cooperation with Tokyo Photographic Research.

 Title | Swiss Vitality Days: The 160th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Switzerland and Japan - Photo Exhibition “Super Natural!”

Period | 2024.9.11 - 2024.10.9

Hours | Weekdays 12:00 - 18:00 / Saturdays 13:00 - 20:00 / Closed on Sundays and holidays Venue | YAU CENTER (1F KOKUSAI Building, 3-1-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005) Admission | Free

Artists | Rumi Ando (JP), Delphine Burtin (CH), Maxime Guyon (CH-FR), Keita Kojima (JP), Taisuke Koyama (JP), Ester Vonplon (CH)

Curator | Nathalie Herschdorfer and Lisa Benaroyo, museum Photo Elysée, Switzerland

Event 1 | Opening Talk & Reception: Friday, September 13, 18:00
Speakers｜Nathalie Herschdorfer (Curator, Photo Elysée), Rumi Ando (Japan), Maxime Guyon (Switzerland/France), Keita Kojima (Japan), Taisuke Koyama (Japan), Delphine Burtin (Switzerland)
Venue｜ YAU CENTER (Kokusai Building 1F, 3-1-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan)
Registration via Peatix is required : here

Event 2 | Artist Talk: Monday (Japanese Holiday), September 16, 13:00
Speakers｜Prof. Shunji Yamanaka (Design Engineer / Professor, The University of Tokyo), Maxime Guyon (Photographer, Switzerland / France) Organizers｜Science and Technology Office Tokyo
Venue｜ YAU CENTER (Kokusai Building 1F, 3-1-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan)
Language｜English (with Japanese consecutive interpretation)

Registration via Peatix is required : here

*As seating is limited, part of the audience may be requested to stand. Thank you for your understanding.

ARTISTS｜

Rumi Ando  http://rumiando.com/

Born in Okayama Prefecture in 1985. After graduating from the Department of Intermedia Art at Tokyo University of the Arts in 2010, she joined An Co., Ltd. of the Amana Group. In 2019, she won the Excellence Award selected by Nathalie Herschdorfer at THE REFERENCE ASIA “PHOTO PRIZE 2019.” She has published a photobook titled “TOKYO NUDE.” She has developed a photographic language that illustrates reality in a pictorial way, with particular emphasis on composition.

Ester Vonplon  https://estervonplon.net

Born in 1980, based in Castrisch, Graubünden, Switzerland. After studying photography at the Schiffbauerdamm school of photography in Berlin, she earned a master’s degree from Zurich University of the Arts in 2013. She has participated in solo and group exhibitions both nationally and internationally. She received the “Manor Cultural Prize” and the “SAC (Swiss Alpine Club) Art Prize” in 2017. Her artistic practice focuses on the environment, in particular natural landscapes before they disappear due to human intervention or climate change.

Maxime Guyon  https://maximeguyon.com/

Born in 1990, currently based between Geneva and Paris. After graduating at the top of his class from ECAL - the University of Art and Design in Lausanne, Switzerland , he contributed to the establishment of the master’s photography program at the same school and was involved in the “Augmented Photography” project. His work explores the sculptural dimensions and dematerialization of the photographic medium, focusing on technological changes in contemporary society.

Keita Kojima  https://www.augmentedbooks.jp

Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1985. Graduated from the Department of Visual Design at Kanazawa College of Art in 2010. As an art director and graphic designer, he handles direction and design for advertisements, product packaging, and books. In recent years, he has created works that visually explore the relationship between the meaning of words and the shapes of letters using augmented reality (AR). He develops AR works where virtual word monuments appear in various locations throughout Tokyo’s Shibuya district.

Taisuke Koyama  https://tiskkym.com

Born in 1978. Currently based in Tokyo, he creates experimental photographs, videos, and installations informed by his background in biology and natural environment studies. From 2014, he worked in London and later Amsterdam under the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Overseas Study Program for Upcoming Artists. Since 2018, he has led “TOKYO PHOTOGRAPHIC RESEARCH,” a project examining contemporary cities and societies. He has held numerous solo and group exhibitions both in Japan and abroad.

Delphine Burtin  https://www.burtin.ch/photographie/

Born in Switzerland in 1974, based in Lausanne. She studied photography at the School of Applied Arts in Vevey, Switzerland. She began her career as an artist around 2012, gaining attention with her work “Sans Condition Initiale,” which was selected for “ReGeneration3 – Quelles perspectives pour la photographie?” by Photo Elysée in 2015. She has participated in solo and group exhibitions nationally and internationally and has received numerous awards, including the Swiss Design Award (2016). Her work explores notions of illusion and disappearance through still life.

CURATOR｜

Nathalie Herschdorfer (Photo Elysée)

Born in Switzerland in 1972, Herschdorfer is a curator and art historian. After directing the Museum of Fine Arts Le Locle, Switzerland and hosting exhibitions by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Hiroshi Sugimoto, and Andy Warhol, she became the director of Photo Elysée in 2022. She is active in the field of contemporary photography, curating exhibitions nationally and internationally, and teaches at ECAL, the University of Art and Design, Switzerland. Her publications include “Body: The Photography Book” (Thames & Hudson, 2019) and “The Thames & Hudson Dictionary of Photography” (2018).

ORGANIZERS｜

PHOTO ELYSÉE  https://elysee.ch

Photo Elysée is one of Europe’s major public photography museums. Established in 1985, it moved to Lausanne’s new art district Plateforme 10 in 2022. The museum’s collection includes over 1.2 million photographic works, covering various media related to photography and video. In addition to hosting exhibitions by globally renowned artists, the museum is committed to discovering and supporting emerging artists.

TOKYO PHOTOGRAPHIC RESEARCH  https://tokyophotographicresearch.jp

Founded in 2018 by photographer Taisuke Koyama, TOKYO PHOTOGRAPHIC RESEARCH is an artist collective of photographers, artists, and researchers involved in photographic expression. The collective aims to document, express, and archive the rapidly transforming Tokyo landscape due to large-scale redevelopment for the Olympics. Their mission includes conducting multifaceted urban research, exploring contemporary photography practices, and advancing photographic culture, ultimately visualizing and preserving new perspectives on urban and societal issues for the future.

Embassy of Switzerland in Japan https://www.eda.admin.ch/tokyo

As the official representation of Switzerland, the embassy covers all matters concerning diplomatic relations between the two countries. It represents Swiss interests in the areas of political, economic and financial affairs, legal arrangements, science, education and culture. 

FUNDING | Pro Helvetia

The Adecco Group

The Adecco Group is the world’s leading talent company. Our purpose is making the future work for everyone. Through our three global business units - Adecco, Akkodis and LHH - across 60 countries, we enable sustainable and lifelong employability for individuals, deliver digital and engineering solutions to power the Smart Industry transformation and empower organisations to optimise their workforces. The Adecco Group leads by example and is committed to an inclusive culture, fostering sustainable employability, and supporting resilient economies and communities.

Bühler K.K. | Straumann Japan K.K. | Swiss International Air Lines

Création Baumann Japan Ltd. | MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA | Novartis Pharma K.K. | Roche Diagnostics K.K. | Sonova Japan Co., Ltd. | Zurich Insurance Company Ltd / Zurich Life Insurance Japan Company Ltd.

Cooperation｜Vitra
Special Cooperation | Yurakucho Art Urbanism YAU

Project team member｜

Exhibition Direction | TOKYO PHOTOGRAPHIC RESEARCH Venue Design | Takeshi Nishio (DAYS.)

Logo Design | Maximage

Typeface | MX Archeology, Orlando Brunner (www.maxitype.com)

Graphic Design | SO HASHIZUME

Editing | Sawako Fukai (SW_)